HMO landlords
Software for HMO landlords
Houses in multiple occupation carry more rules than a single let: a licence, stricter safety duties and more people reporting more repairs. TenantTool keeps every licence, certificate and job against the house it belongs to, and tells you what needs doing next.
Updated 21 September 2026
Licensing
A mandatory HMO licence is needed where five or more people forming more than one household share a home. Councils can also run additional licensing for smaller HMOs and selective licensing for other rented homes in chosen areas. Licences usually last up to five years; record each one with its expiry and conditions and TenantTool reminds you before it lapses.
Room sizes
Licensed HMOs in England have minimum bedroom sizes. Keep your room measurements with the property’s documents so they are to hand at licence renewal.
- 6.51 square metres for one person over 10
- 10.22 square metres for two people over 10
- 4.64 square metres for one child under 10
Safety, and the managers’ duties
HMO management regulations require the manager to keep fire escapes and common parts safe and in repair, and to give occupiers their contact details. Gas safety, the EICR, alarms and a fire risk assessment are tracked in TenantTool with their dates, and a failed certificate is flagged the day it arrives.
More people, more repairs
Every job has its property, contractor, cost and dates, from the report to the invoice. With TenantTool Pro, tenants report problems with photos through the portal and are kept updated, and contractor invoices can be forwarded to your own address and filed against the job.
Where this applies
This guide covers England. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules, so check the requirements for where your property is.
Common questions
- What makes a property an HMO?
- Broadly, a home let to three or more people who form more than one household and share facilities such as a kitchen or bathroom. It needs a mandatory licence at five or more people.
- Can I track additional or selective licences too?
- Yes. Any licence can be recorded with its expiry date and is reminded like a certificate.