Brighton HMO Management Regulations, DASH and HHSRS Inspections

Getting a property licence in Brighton is the first hurdle. Keeping it in good standing over its five-year term is the longer game — and that's where the HMO management regulations, DASH checklist and HHSRS framework come in.

HMO Management Regulations

The Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006 impose duties on managers of HMOs with shared accommodation. They do not apply to Section 257 converted blocks, which are covered by the Licensing and Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (Additional Provisions) (England) Regulations 2007. These are statutory obligations, not suggestions, and the council enforces them:

Common areas. Staircases, hallways, landings and shared rooms must be kept in good repair and free of obstruction. Handrails, banisters and stair coverings must be maintained in safe condition.

Fire safety. All fire-fighting equipment, fire detection and alarm systems must be kept in working order. Fire escape routes must remain clear at all times. The manager must take reasonable steps to protect occupants from fire.

Water and drainage. The water supply, drainage and sanitary installations must be maintained. Hot and cold water must be available at all times.

Gas and electricity. Gas and electrical installations must be kept in safe working order. Supply must not be unreasonably interrupted.

Waste. Adequate arrangements for the storage and disposal of household waste must be made, with bins and collection schedules communicated to occupants.

Maintenance. The structure, exterior and grounds of the property must be kept in reasonable repair.

Failure to comply with the management regulations is a criminal offence — the council can prosecute or issue civil penalties of up to £40,000 per offence.

The DASH Checklist

DASH stands for Decent and Safe Homes. Brighton & Hove City Council explicitly recommends the DASH HHSRS Landlord Checklist as the standard tool for recording property inspections.

As a licence condition, you must carry out a formal property inspection at least every six months and maintain a written log showing the date, what you checked, what you found and any remedial action taken. The council can demand to see this log within 28 days.

The DASH checklist is structured around the 29 HHSRS hazard categories (see below) and gives you a systematic way to document each inspection. It covers:

• Damp and mould growth
• Excess cold or heat
• Fire safety (escape routes, detection, alarms)
• Electrical hazards
• Falls on stairs, between levels and on level surfaces
• Structural collapse
• Entry by intruders
• Food safety in shared kitchens
• Personal hygiene, sanitation and drainage

Using the DASH checklist (or an equivalent structured format) is the clearest way to demonstrate compliance if the council requests your inspection records. A vague note saying "inspected property, all fine" won't meet the standard.

HHSRS: The Council's Inspection Power

The Housing Health and Safety Rating System is the council's tool for assessing hazards in residential properties. It operates under Part 1 of the Housing Act 2004 — completely separate from the Part 2 and Part 3 licensing regime.

This means the council can inspect any licensed property at any time using HHSRS powers, assess it against the 29 statutory hazard categories, and serve enforcement notices if it finds Category 1 (serious) or Category 2 (less serious) hazards.

A property licence does not certify that the building is free from HHSRS hazards. A licensed property can still be subject to an Improvement Notice, a Prohibition Order or an Emergency Remedial Action notice if the council identifies hazards during an inspection.

The 29 HHSRS hazard categories include:

• Dampness and mould
• Excess cold
• Carbon monoxide and fuel combustion products
• Asbestos and manufactured mineral fibres
• Lead
• Falls (stairs, baths, between levels, on the level)
• Electrical hazards
• Fire
• Collision and entrapment
• Noise
• Crowding and space
• Entry by intruders
• Lighting
• Domestic hygiene, pests and refuse
• Food safety
• Personal hygiene, sanitation and drainage
• Water supply

How These Three Fit Together

Think of it as three overlapping layers:

1. The licence grants permission to operate the property as a rented dwelling — it comes with conditions about documents, inspections and management
2. The management regulations set ongoing duties for how the property is maintained day to day
3. HHSRS gives the council power to inspect for physical hazards regardless of licence status

Breaching any of these can result in enforcement action. Under Section 249A, only one financial penalty may be imposed for the same conduct; separate offences can still lead to separate enforcement action.

Staying on Top of It

The practical way to manage all three is a systematic inspection routine — the six-monthly DASH checklist covers both the licence inspection obligation and most of the HHSRS hazard categories in one pass.

Our Brighton & Hove Landlord Licensing guide includes a printable inspection log template and the complete condition checklist for all three licensing schemes, designed to keep you compliant from day one through to scheme expiry.

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