HMO Management in Marton
An unlicensed HMO in Marton is a £30,000 fine waiting to happen. We provide end-to-end hmo management in Marton—licensing, fire safety, full compliance—so you can focus on being a landlord.
Why HMO Management in Marton Matters
Marton (TS7, TS8) has strong tenant demand and solid rental yields—but HMO licensing is mandatory, not optional. If five or more unrelated people are occupying your property, you need a Middlesbrough Council licence before they move in. The council won't remind you. Most landlords discover this requirement mid-let, which is when the exposure begins. We manage 9 licensed HMOs across Teesside. We handle licensing applications, fire safety assessments, electrical and gas certification, right-to-rent checks, deposit protection, and all council correspondence. Your job: be a landlord. Our job: keep you legal.
What's Included
Licensing and inspection — We submit the HMO licence application to Middlesbrough Council, attend the inspection, and manage renewals. No blind audits.
Fire safety and emergency procedures — Emergency lighting, alarm systems, extinguishers, escape routes, and tenancy induction. We coordinate the works and provide certified sign-off.
Right to Rent and tenant vetting — We run Right to Rent checks on every occupant before move-in. We apply our standard 40% rejection filter so you don't inherit problem tenants.
Gas and electrical safety — Annual gas safety certificates, five-yearly electrical testing (EICR), boiler servicing, and legionella risk assessments. All logged for inspection.
Deposit protection and inventory — Protected deposits, itemised inventories, check-in/check-out inspections, and dispute resolution handled in-house.
Pricing and Process
We charge 8% of monthly rent as our management fee—the same rate as our standard lettings, no setup charges. The licensing application and initial compliance inspection are included. Once licensed, we manage month-to-month: rent collection, maintenance coordination, inspector access, and renewals.
Licensing timelines run 4–6 weeks from application to council inspection to grant. Middlesbrough's current HMO licence fee is [STAT NEEDED: current fee]. Renewals are due every five years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need an HMO licence if I have five unrelated tenants?
A: Yes. Five or more unrelated people occupying a property triggers mandatory licensing under Middlesbrough Council rules in TS7 and TS8. You must have the licence before they move in. If you're already letting without one, apply immediately. We had a landlord in TS1 who didn't realise a five-bed HMO needed licensing until mid-tenancy—he faced a potential £30,000 fine. We applied retroactively, pushed the council, and the licence was granted in six weeks. Still exposed him to unnecessary risk, though. The lesson: licence first.
Q: What if the council rejects my licence application?
A: Rejections usually point to repairable issues: fire safety gaps, electrical hazards, damp, or structural problems. Once fixed, resubmit. We coordinate all remedial works and handle the reapplication. A rejection isn't a dead-end—it's the council telling you what you needed to fix anyway.
Q: How much does an HMO licence cost, and how long does it take?
A: Middlesbrough's current HMO licence fee is [STAT NEEDED: current fee]. The process takes 4–6 weeks from submission to grant. Our 8% management fee includes the application and your first renewal. After that, you renew every five years.
Q: What if I have a problem tenant—can you handle eviction?
A: We escalate: formal notice, compliance reminder, mediation if it'll help, and if necessary, we brief a solicitor for Section 8 proceedings. Section 21 was abolished in October 2024, so all HMO evictions now use Section 8, which requires legal grounds. We manage the process; a solicitor handles the court application.
Q: Will licensing affect my mortgage or insurance?
A: Notify your lender and insurer that the property is licensed as an HMO and professionally managed. Most expect this. We'll draft the notification letters for you. Some buy-to-let mortgages restrict HMOs, so check your deed before purchase—but once let, licensing and professional management actually reduce lender and insurer risk.
Ready to licence your HMO in Marton and get fully compliant? Call us on 03301 759773 or fill in the contact form below. We'll tell you straight whether you need a licence, what it costs, and how long it takes.