Safe HMO

SAFE HMO CONSTRUCTION LTD operates as Safe HMO, a UK-based firm specialising in various aspects of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). The company provides a range of services designed to support property owners and managers in navigating the complexities of HMO regulations, construction, and ongoing management. Its offerings encompass training, property conversion and modification, and comprehensive property management solutions, all aimed at ensuring compliance with UK housing legislation. The firm's Safe HMO Training Academy offers educational programs for individuals seeking to understand HMO law, licensing, and regulations.

These programs include a free HMO fundamentals booklet, an online HMO course, and an intensive two-day classroom course. The training curriculum covers essential topics such as distinguishing various HMO management practices, solidifying lawful HMO investments, understanding Article 4 areas and planning ramifications, and navigating unlawful permitted development rights. Participants also learn to de-risk potential HMO purchases through desktop analysis, digital tools, HMO Matrix applications, and compliance checklists. Safe HMO also provides specialised HMO Construction services, focusing on full HMO conversion modifications.

These services include the installation of guaranteed fire doors that meet regulatory standards, with optional interior design services available. The construction team possesses the capability to convert properties, such as transforming a two-bedroom house into a fully compliant five or six-bed HMO, undertaking back-to-brick conversions, and adding loft dormers. This ensures that properties are structurally sound and meet the necessary physical requirements for HMO status. In addition to training and construction, the company offers full HMO Property Management services.

This specialisation includes ensuring properties are fully HMO accredited by the local council. The management services involve monthly testing to adhere to HMO and Fire Safety Order (FSO) Regulations, as well as ongoing safety compliance. Safe HMO produces a comprehensive HMO document pack for properties, which includes assessment and validation, a mandatory Fire Risk Assessment for all HMOs in Coventry, and HMO visits to confirm adherence to current legislation. The firm also generates Housing Health & Safety Rating System (HHSRS) reports.

A key aspect of Safe HMO's property management is its support for the HMO licensing process. The company submits complete HMO applications on behalf of clients, ensuring that all vital documentation and relevant supporting materials, including fees, are provided. This allows property owners to continue legally renting their HMOs during the licence application process, even before a council visit. The firm's expertise in these areas is particularly relevant to the UK Private Rented Sector (PRS), including the Private Student Accommodation (PBSA) market, as many student properties operate as HMOs.

The company's definition of an HMO explicitly includes properties let to "unrelated students/professionals who share a kitchen," directly addressing the student housing model. The firm operates with an understanding of the legal framework governing HMOs, including the Housing Act 2004, which defines properties let to three or more tenants forming two or more households who share amenities as HMOs. The company also highlights the implications of "Additional Licensing" schemes, where all three and four-bedroom HMOs may require a licence. Safe HMO's services are designed to help property owners adhere to critical regulations such as the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, The Management of Houses in Multiple Occupations (England) Regulations 2006, and the HHSRS, which are enforced by the Fire & Rescue Service and local councils.

The company's professional team provides guidance and practical solutions to navigate the evolving regulatory landscape, ensuring properties meet current standards and maintain HMO safety.