HMO Management in London
London HMOs are the highest-yield residential asset in the country and the most heavily policed. Licensing, fire safety and room standards decide whether the yield survives contact with the council.
Get an HMO management quote
Tell us the borough, number of rooms and licensing status and we'll quote full management.
Licensing across London boroughs
Mandatory HMO licensing applies anywhere in England to a property occupied by five or more people forming two or more households who share facilities. On top of that, most London boroughs run additional licensing schemes covering smaller HMOs, and several run selective licensing over whole wards.
Schemes differ by borough and are renewed on different dates, so a portfolio spread across London needs a live licence calendar rather than an annual check. Operating an unlicensed HMO risks a rent repayment order of up to twelve months' rent plus a civil penalty of up to £30,000 per offence.
What full HMO management includes
- Licence applications, renewals and condition compliance in every borough we operate in
- Room-by-room letting, referencing and individual tenancy agreements
- Fire risk assessment, interlinked detection, fire doors, escape lighting and signage
- Quarterly inspections with photographic reports and a repair schedule
- Rent collection, arrears escalation and possession where necessary
- Communal cleaning, garden and waste management
- Council inspection handling and remedial works project management
Where London HMO landlords lose money
- Void rooms left unlet because there is no rolling re-let pipeline
- Licence lapse triggering a rent repayment order that wipes out a year of profit
- Room sizes below the statutory minimum forcing de-densification after inspection
- Utilities included in rent with no consumption control
- Ad-hoc contractors on emergency call-out rates instead of a maintenance schedule
Frequently asked questions
How much does HMO management cost in London?
HMO management is priced higher than standard lettings because it is per-room letting plus licensing and compliance work. We quote a fixed percentage or a per-room monthly fee — whichever is better value for the property — with no separate charges for licence handling.
Do I need a licence for a three-bedroom shared house?
Not under mandatory licensing, but many London boroughs run additional licensing schemes that do cover three- and four-person HMOs. It depends on the borough and, sometimes, on the ward.
Can you take over a property that is already let room by room?
Yes. We audit the licensing position and fire safety first, take the tenancies and deposits across, and give you a written remediation list before management starts.