For landlords

What are the gas safety rules for an HMO?

An HMO has the same core gas duty as any let property: every gas appliance and flue the landlord provides must be checked every 12 months by a Gas Safe registered engineer, with a record given to the occupiers. Because more people share an HMO, gas safety matters even more.

Reviewed by Jordan Valentine-Dunn, Gas Safe registered engineer · Portsmouth Gas Heating · Last reviewed July 2026

A house in multiple occupation (HMO) has the same core gas safety duty as any other let property. Every gas appliance and flue the landlord provides must be checked every 12 months by a Gas Safe registered engineer, and a copy of the record given to the people living there.

Why gas safety matters even more in an HMO

An HMO is higher-risk simply because more people share the same property and the same appliances. That makes staying on top of the annual gas safety check, and keeping the records to hand, even more important than in a single-household let.

Every landlord-provided gas appliance and flue: checked every 12 months by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
A copy of the gas safety record: given to the occupiers.
If the HMO needs a council licence, a current gas safety record, and often an electrical one, is typically a licence condition.

Only a Gas Safe registered engineer can carry out the check and issue a valid record. This is general information on the rules for HMOs, not legal or licensing advice for your property.

Frequently asked

Are the gas safety rules different for an HMO?

The core duty is the same as any let: every gas appliance and flue the landlord provides is checked every 12 months by a Gas Safe registered engineer, with a record given to the occupiers. The difference is that an HMO is higher-risk, so it matters even more.

Does an HMO licence require a gas safety record?

If the HMO needs a licence from the council, being able to show a current gas safety record, and often an electrical one too, is typically a condition of that licence. Keeping records current and to hand helps you meet the terms.

Who gets a copy of the gas safety record in an HMO?

The occupiers. As with any let property, the landlord must give the people living there a copy of the record from the annual check. In an HMO that means making sure everyone who needs it can see it.

Sources

Last reviewed July 2026. This guide is general information, not legal or safety advice, gas safety work must be carried out by an appropriately Gas Safe registered engineer. Rules can change, so check the linked official sources for the current position.

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