Property types
Bathroom installations in an HMO
An HMO bathroom has to withstand far heavier daily use than a family bathroom, and licensing conditions often set minimum numbers of bathrooms and WCs relative to the number of occupants. Durability and simple maintenance access matter more than design flourishes, since fittings will be used by rotating tenants with no shared investment in keeping them pristine.
Frequently asked
How many bathrooms does an HMO need?
It depends on the local licensing scheme and the number of occupants sharing facilities, the current requirements should be checked with the council before finalising a layout.
Should each room have its own washbasin?
Many landlords add an en-suite basin per bedroom to reduce pressure on shared bathrooms, which is usually straightforward if a supply and a small waste run can reach each room.
Property-specific points
- 1
Licensing conditions in many areas require a set ratio of bathrooms or WCs to occupants, so a refit is a good point to check current numbers against the household size before finishing the layout.
- 2
Concealed cisterns and shower valves should be specified with accessible service panels, since HMO plumbing gets called out for repairs more often than in a single-family home.
- 3
Hard-wearing, easy-clean finishes such as full-height tiling and vinyl safety flooring reduce the ongoing maintenance burden far more than they add to the initial cost.
Connected pages on this site
Not sure which option suits your property?
Most of these decisions come down to what is behind the wall and under the floor. A site visit settles it quickly.