HMO Inspections · London & Home Counties
HMO inspections and compliance assessments, carried out the way a council would carry them out.
A landlord-facing inspection of your HMO against its licence conditions, the HMO Management Regulations and the HHSRS — with photographs, written findings and a prioritised plan of what to fix first.
- Qualified Environmental Health Officer — not a general surveyor
- 24 years' front-line housing enforcement
- 6,000+ property inspections
- Reports typically within ten working days of inspection
What you receive
- The inspection — every room, common part, kitchen, bathroom, fire precaution and means of escape, assessed against licence conditions, the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006 and the HHSRS
- Photographs — a dated photographic record of each finding
- Written findings — each issue, the requirement it relates to, and the consequence of leaving it
- Prioritised actions — Category 1 hazards and licence breaches first, housekeeping last
- Turnaround — typically ten working days from inspection to report
- Fee and quotation — fixed per property, quoted before work starts; no charge for the quotation
When to book an inspection
- A council inspection or licence application is coming
- Licence conditions need reviewing against the property
- You own, manage or are buying an HMO
- You run a portfolio and need to know where exposure concentrates
What is assessed
- HMO licensing — mandatory, additional and selective, plus the conditions attached to the licence
- Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006 — fire precautions, means of escape, shared amenities, water supply, drainage, gas and electricity safety, cleanliness, waste
- HHSRS — all 21 prescribed hazard categories (2026 reform)
- Room sizes, occupancy and amenity provision against the borough's standards
- Fire safety and means of escape
- Documentation — gas safety, electrical safety, EPC, tenancy and licensing records
Who carries out the inspection
Liam McIntyre, BSc (Hons), LLB (Hons), MCIEH — a qualified Environmental Health Officer and Member of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, with 24 years' front-line housing enforcement and in excess of 6,000 property inspections across more than ten local authorities, including Westminster, Islington and Newham. The inspection uses the methodology councils apply when they licence, inspect and penalise.
Genuinely independent — no remedial works are sold and no fee depends on the findings.
Related services
Licensing strategy, civil penalty representations and First-tier Tribunal work: landlord and agent services. HHSRS inspections and housing conditions assessments: /hhsrs-inspections. Housing conditions litigation: expert witness services.
Common questions
What does an HMO inspection include?
A full inspection of the property against HMO licensing conditions, the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006 and the HHSRS; a photographed record of findings; a written report identifying each issue and why it matters; and a prioritised action plan separating what must be fixed before a council visit from what can wait. Reports are typically delivered within ten working days of the inspection.
How much does an HMO inspection cost?
Fees are quoted per property after a short conversation about size, number of occupants, number of units and location. Email or WhatsApp with those details and you will be given a fixed fee before any work starts. There are no hourly rates and no charge for the quotation or the call.
Do I need an HMO licence?
Mandatory licensing applies to HMOs occupied by five or more people forming two or more households who share facilities. Many London boroughs also operate additional licensing covering smaller HMOs, and some operate selective licensing for single-family lets. Requirements vary by borough.
What are the penalties for an unlicensed or non-compliant HMO?
Operating an HMO without a required licence is an offence under section 72 of the Housing Act 2004, carrying a civil penalty of up to £40,000 or prosecution. Breaches of the HMO Management Regulations and failure to comply with an Improvement Notice carry penalties of up to £40,000, and a Rent Repayment Order can recover up to two years' rent.
Is the inspection independent of remedial work?
Yes. McIntyre Property Compliance does not carry out or sell remedial works, and no fee depends on what the report says.
Book an HMO inspection
Email or WhatsApp with the property's size, occupancy and borough and you will have a fixed fee the same working day. If a council visit is already booked, say when.
Email: liam@mcintyre-property-compliance.co.uk · Phone / WhatsApp: 07527 317311 · Coverage: London & Home Counties