Practical guidance for London landlords, housing officers, and social housing professionals.
With HMO licensing rules, electrical safety requirements, and fire safety standards all evolving — here's everything London landlords need to have in place this year to stay on the right side of their local council.
Download the checklistPractical guidance written by our team — updated whenever the rules change.
Not all HMOs need the same type of licence. We break down the differences between mandatory licensing (5+ occupants, 3+ storeys) and additional licensing schemes operating across London boroughs.
Mandatory licensing applies to any HMO in England occupied by 5 or more people forming 2 or more households, regardless of the number of storeys. A licence must be obtained from the local council before tenants move in.
Additional licensing is introduced borough by borough and can cover smaller HMOs — sometimes as few as 3 occupants. Many London boroughs, including Newham, Southwark, and Lewisham, operate their own schemes. Always check with the specific borough before letting.
Selective licensing goes further still — it applies to all privately rented properties in a designated area, regardless of whether they are HMOs. This is increasingly common in high-demand London areas.
Oasis manages licensing across all three tiers on behalf of landlords. Contact us to confirm what applies to your property.
The LACORS housing fire safety guide remains the definitive standard for HMO fire safety. Here's what it means in practice — from fire doors to emergency lighting — and how Oasis ensures full compliance across our portfolio.
The LACORS Housing Fire Safety Guide is the benchmark councils use when assessing HMO fire risk. It sets out requirements for fire detection (interlinked alarms in every room), means of escape (clear corridors, no obstructions), and fire-resisting construction (FD30S doors to all rooms).
Fire Risk Assessments (FRAs) are legally required under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 for all HMOs. These must be carried out by a competent person and reviewed whenever there is a significant change to the property or its occupancy.
Common failure points include missing self-closers on fire doors, inadequate emergency lighting in stairwells, and outdated alarm panels that are not Grade D interlinked. Any of these can result in an Improvement Notice from the council.
Oasis commissions FRAs for all properties we manage and implements remedial works proactively. Speak to us about your compliance position.
Nomination agreements between private housing providers and London boroughs are a critical tool for reducing housing register waiting times. We explain how they work, what councils should look for, and how Oasis can help.
A nomination agreement is a formal arrangement between a council and a private housing provider. The council retains the right to nominate tenants from its housing register into specific properties, while the provider manages the tenancy and maintains the property to agreed standards.
Spot purchase arrangements are a related but distinct tool — the council purchases individual tenancies on a nightly or weekly basis to discharge its housing duty quickly, typically for homeless households.
Both arrangements require the provider to meet minimum standards: valid HMO licence (where applicable), current EICR and gas safety certificate, a completed fire risk assessment, and proof of adequate property and liability insurance.
Oasis holds active nomination agreements with London boroughs and can onboard new council partnerships quickly. View our council offer or get in touch.
Since 2020, all private landlords must have a valid Electrical Installation Condition Report for their properties. We cover the 5-year cycle, what inspectors look for, and how to act on a Category 1 or Category 2 finding.
An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) must be carried out at least every 5 years by a qualified electrician. A copy must be provided to new tenants before they move in, and to existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection.
Category 1 (C1) findings represent immediate danger and must be remedied before the property can be legally let. Category 2 (C2) findings are potentially dangerous and must be addressed within 28 days. Councils can issue a remedial notice if a landlord fails to act.
Consumer units (fuse boxes) in rented properties must have a metal enclosure. Older plastic units do not meet current fire safety requirements and should be replaced at the next available opportunity even if the EICR does not flag a C1 or C2.
Oasis coordinates EICRs across our entire managed portfolio and handles all remedial works. See how we manage compliance.
Guaranteed rent schemes offer predictability and zero void periods — but they're not for every landlord. We honestly explain the trade-offs, what to look for in a provider, and how our model at Oasis works in practice.
Under a guaranteed rent arrangement, Oasis leases your property directly and pays you a fixed monthly income — whether the property is occupied or not. You have no void periods, no rent arrears, and no tenant management responsibilities.
The trade-off is that the rent you receive will typically be slightly below open-market rate — usually 80–90% of market rent depending on the property, location, and length of lease. This discount funds our management costs and risk.
It works best for landlords who value predictability over maximising yield, who own properties suited to HMO or social housing use, and who want to be genuinely hands-off. It is less suited to landlords who want full control over tenant selection or who regularly refurbish between lets.
We offer guaranteed rent on 3–5 year lease terms across most London boroughs. Find out more or request a free assessment.
The Renters' Rights Act represents the biggest change to residential tenancy law in a generation. We unpack the key changes — from the abolition of Section 21 to new grounds for possession — and what they mean for HMO operators.
Section 21 'no-fault' evictions are abolished. Landlords can no longer end a tenancy simply by serving notice — they must now rely on specific grounds under Section 8, such as rent arrears, anti-social behaviour, or the landlord wishing to sell or move in.
All tenancies become periodic. Fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies are replaced with open-ended periodic tenancies. Tenants can leave with 2 months' notice at any time; landlords must use the Section 8 grounds process to recover possession.
Rent increases can only be made once per year via a formal Section 13 notice, and tenants have the right to challenge any increase at the First-tier Tribunal. Landlords cannot include rent review clauses in tenancy agreements.
For HMO operators and social housing providers, the practical impact is that robust tenancy management from day one is more important than ever. Talk to Oasis about how we navigate this on your behalf.
We keep a close eye on housing policy and regulation so you don't have to. Updated automatically from GOV.UK.
Whether you're a landlord, a council housing team, or looking for a managed home — we'd love to hear from you.
