Licence conditions

Licence conditions are the specific requirements attached to an HMO or selective licence by the issuing council, covering safety, management and property standards.

4 min read · Updated 2 August 2026

Overview

Licence conditions are the specific requirements attached to an HMO or selective licence by the issuing council, covering safety, management and property standards.

Mandatory conditions

National standard conditions apply to every mandatory HMO licence, covering gas safety, electrical safety and fire precautions.

Discretionary conditions

Councils can add bespoke conditions for a specific property, such as waste management or noise mitigation.

Breach consequences

Breaching licence conditions is a criminal offence and can result in licence revocation or a civil penalty.

This wiki entry is general information for UK landlords and letting agents, not legal advice. Rules differ across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland — check your local requirements or take advice before acting.