For HMO Landlords
Compliant Conversions That Pass Licensing First Time.
HMO licensing fails cost landlords months and thousands. RCB builds to fire safety and licensing spec from the very first fix — so the council signs off and your yield starts sooner.
The Hidden Cost of “Close Enough” HMO Work
Most builders can swing a hammer. Very few understand what a licensing officer actually looks for when they walk through the door. The gap between “built” and “compliant” is where HMO landlords lose their money — and sometimes their licence.
RCB treats licensing sign-off as the definition of done — not something you sort out afterwards.
What RCB Delivers for HMO Landlords
We do not just build rooms. We build a compliant, licensable HMO — with the paperwork to prove it.
Fire Safety Built In From Day One
- LD2 fire alarm systems installed to BS 5839 — not retrofitted as an afterthought
- Fire doors FD30 and FD60 correctly specified and fitted with intumescent strips
- Emergency lighting, fire blankets, and extinguishers to local authority spec
- Full fire safety evidence pack for licensing submission included
Licensing Pack — Ready to Submit
- All compliance documentation produced as standard — not billed as extras
- As-built floor plans, room dimensions, fire safety schedules
- Gas Safe, Electrical Installation Condition Report, EPC coordination
- We have done this before — we know what the council expects to see
Article 4 Area Experience
- We operate across Article 4 designated boroughs in Greater London
- Pre-application advice and planning submission support available
- Guidance on permitted development limits before you commit budget
- Design solutions that satisfy both planning and licensing simultaneously
Fixed Price, Known Return
- Room-by-room itemised costs so you can model yield before signing
- No hidden prelims, no surprise fire-stop costs added mid-project
- Formal variation orders for any scope changes — nothing done verbally
- Payment milestones tied to programme stages, not contractor cashflow
From Survey to Licence-Ready
A structured process that ends with a property your council will licence — and your tenants will want to live in.
Pre-Build Planning Session
We review your existing property, licensing category target (standard or additional HMO), Article 4 status, and local authority requirements before a brick is touched.
Fixed-Price Scope Issued
Full itemised scope covering structural works, fire safety systems, kitchenware, bathrooms, and compliance pack. No item left as “TBC.”
Compliant Build, On Programme
Works carried out by CSCS-certified operatives. Fire safety installed to BS 5839. All trades signed off as we go, not after completion.
Licensing Pack Handed Over
As-built drawings, fire alarm commissioning certificate, fire door schedule, room data sheets — everything the council needs, formatted and ready to submit.
Why HMO Landlords Choose RCB
Accredited, insured, and independently reviewed — the credentials your licensing officer expects to see from your contractor.
Compliance Is Not an Add-On
Our 114 Checkatrade reviews — rated 9.96/10 — come from homeowners and landlords who received exactly what was scoped. CHAS and Constructionline accreditation means your contractor has passed independent health, safety, and quality vetting. Not self-declared. Verified.
HMO Landlord FAQs
Which licensing category do you build to?
We build to mandatory HMO licence standard as a minimum (5+ tenants, 2+ storeys) and can spec to additional licensing requirements specific to your borough. We confirm the applicable standard before works begin, not after.
Do you handle Article 4 planning applications?
We can guide you through the Article 4 process and work with your planning consultant or our recommended contacts. We flag Article 4 status at the outset — before you have committed budget to a conversion that needs prior approval.
What fire alarm standard do you install to?
We install LD2 grade fire alarm systems to BS 5839-6 as standard for HMO conversions. For larger or more complex HMOs we assess whether LD1 is required. The commissioning certificate is included in your compliance pack.
Can you work around existing tenants?
Where properties are partially tenanted we phase works to minimise disruption and maintain habitability. We confirm the programme approach before starting — no surprises for you or your occupants.
Get Your HMO Licence-Ready
Talk to us before you commit budget. We'll tell you exactly what your borough requires and what it will cost — upfront, in writing, no surprises.