LC2 The licence holder must ensure that advice to occupiers on action to be taken in the event of an emergency is clearly and prominently displayed within the living accommodation.

In the event of an emergency, such as a fire, gas leak or injury, it is important that occupiers know what to do and who to contact. The HMO owner must provide this information, for example with the tenancy agreement and, permanently and prominently displayed within the property. In staffed accommodation it should state how to inform staff of an emergency. The information should also cover safety information such as the safe use of gas appliances, regular checking of smoke alarms, not tampering with fire doors, and so on.

HMO owners should consider providing guidance in alternate languages where appropriate.

LC3 The licence holder must ensure that the physical standards for HMO living accommodation assessed as suitable by the local authority when approving the licence application are met at all times.

LC4 The licence holder must ensure that the number of persons residing in the premises shall not exceed [insert number].

An HMO licence should generally be granted for a specific number of occupiers within the property. Exceeding this number would be an offence as a breach of this licensing condition. It is open to the HMO owner to apply to the local authority for a variation to their licence where the licence holder wishes to increase the number of occupiers.

LC5 The licence holder must make the Licence, including any conditions, available to occupiers, within the premises where it can be conveniently read by residents.

LC6 The licence holder must ensure that actions to secure repossession must be only by lawful means.

Where a local authority has grounds to believe that the HMO owner may attempt unlawful eviction, but these grounds are not sufficient to warrant the HMO owner failing the ‘fit and proper’ test, then it may be appropriate to include a licensing condition to ensure that repossession can only be by lawful means.

In the great majority of cases occupiers will leave the property at the end of their lease. Indeed, HMO occupiers generally stay for relatively short periods of time in any one property. However, if difficulties arise, it is important that HMO owners follow the law in acting to remove an occupier. Where a formal tenancy exists, it is usually necessary for the HMO owner to obtain a court order requiring the occupier to leave. For occupancy agreements, particularly where there is a resident HMO owner and in hostel accommodation, other arrangements will apply, but the HMO owner must always follow the procedure set out in the occupancy agreement. It is in all cases illegal to use any form of harassment to try to make an occupant leave. The illegal eviction or harassment of occupiers are police matters and should be reported to them.

LC7 The licence holder must ensure that Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) shall not be used or stored on the premises.

LC8 The licence holder shall comply with the current regulations regarding maximum re-sale prices of gas and electricity supplied, as appropriate.

LC9 The licence holder should ensure that let rooms are fitted with a lever latch and secured with a suitable lock and thumb turn mechanism or other appropriate locking mechanism.

Local authorities may wish to take account of the type of accommodation and, if relevant, the preferences of occupiers in considering whether to impose this condition