Hammersmith and Fulham Property Licensing Inspection: What to Expect

When Inspections Happen

Not every licensed property in Hammersmith and Fulham gets inspected during the licence period, but every property can be. LBHF's Private Sector Housing Team uses inspections to verify that licensed properties meet the conditions attached to the licence and comply with the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) under Part 1 of the Housing Act 2004.

Inspections are more likely for mandatory and additional HMO licences than for selective licences, because shared properties carry higher risk for hazards like fire and overcrowding. First-time licence holders, properties with a history of complaints, and buildings flagged during the application process all move up the priority list.

Who Carries Out the Inspection

An Environmental Health Officer (EHO) from the Private Sector Housing Team conducts the visit. The council carries out inspections under its Housing Act powers; follow the access arrangements in any notice it serves.

The EHO inspects the physical property against HHSRS standards and the specific conditions on the licence, and may also ask to see safety documents.

What They Check

The inspection covers a structured list of hazard categories. The main areas:

Fire safety. Working smoke alarms on every storey, carbon monoxide alarms near combustion appliances, clear escape routes, fire doors in HMOs where required. The EHO will test alarms, check that fire doors close properly, and look for blocked escape routes.

Room sizes and overcrowding. For HMOs, a 6.51-square-metre single bedroom and a 10.22-square-metre double bedroom are permitted only where separate communal living space is provided — at least 12.5 square metres for 3–4 occupants or 16.5 square metres for 5 or more. Without it, the minimums are 10.22 square metres for one person and 15 square metres for two. Floor area below a ceiling height of 1.5 metres is excluded. The EHO measures rooms and compares them with the permitted occupancy.

Kitchen and bathroom amenities. Adequate cooking, washing and toilet facilities for the number of occupants. For five occupants, the minimum is one bathroom with a bath or shower and wash hand basin, plus a separate WC; a shared kitchen requires one full cooker for every five occupants. The EHO checks provision and condition.

Electrical and gas safety. They will ask to see the current gas safety certificate and EICR, and visually check that the installation matches what the certificates describe. Exposed wiring, damaged sockets, and uncertified gas work are all flagged.

Damp, mould and structural hazards. Under HHSRS, hazards are assessed according to their severity. Awaab's Law provisions require reported damp and mould hazards to be investigated and remediated within the applicable statutory timeframes. The EHO documents any damp, checks ventilation, and scores the severity.

Waste and external areas. For HMOs, the licence conditions typically require adequate bin provision and clear arrangements for refuse collection. The EHO may check communal areas, bin stores and external maintenance.

What Happens If They Find Problems

Minor issues — a missing smoke alarm battery, a broken extractor fan — usually result in an informal request to fix them within a stated timeframe. The EHO writes it up and follows up.

Category 1 hazards trigger formal enforcement. LBHF can serve an Improvement Notice requiring specified works by the compliance date in the notice, or in severe cases, a Prohibition Order preventing occupation of part or all of the property. Failure to comply can lead to further enforcement action.

For licensed properties, repeated or serious failures can lead to licence revocation — at which point the property must stop being rented until a new licence is granted.

How to Prepare

The simplest preparation is maintaining the property to the standard required by the licence conditions at all times, not just before an inspection. But as a practical checklist:

• Test all smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
• Confirm the gas certificate and EICR are current and accessible
• Check that fire doors close fully on their own
• Measure bedroom floor areas if you have not done so recently
• Clear escape routes of stored items
• Address any visible damp, mould or water damage
• Ensure bins are adequate and collection is happening

The Hammersmith and Fulham Landlord Licensing Guide includes a compliance calendar that tracks certificate expiry dates and a condition-by-condition breakdown of what each licence type requires.

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