Washing facilities and bathroom requirements
The regulations specify the following:
(1) Where all or some of the units of living accommodation in an HMO do not contain bathing and toilet facilities for the exclusive use of each individual household;
(a) There must be an adequate number of bathrooms/shower rooms, toilets and wash hand basins suitable for personal washing for the number of persons sharing those facilities;
and
(b) Where reasonably practicable there must be a wash hand basin with appropriate splash back in each unit, other than a bedsit unit in which a kitchen sink has been provided (see ‘Kitchen facilities within bedsits’)
Having regard to the age and character of the HMO, the size and layout of each flat and its existing provision for wash hand basins, toilets and bathrooms/shower rooms;
(2) All baths, showers and wash hand basins in an HMO must be equipped with taps
providing an adequate supply of cold and constant hot water
(3) All bathrooms/shower rooms in an HMO must be suitably and adequately heated and ventilated (both window and mechanical ventilation to the outside air)
(4) All bathrooms/shower rooms and toilets in an HMO must be of an adequate size and layout
(5) All bathrooms/shower rooms and toilets in an HMO must be fit for purpose
(6) All bathrooms/shower rooms and toilets in an HMO must be suitably located in or in relation to the living accommodation in the HMO
(7) En-suite bathrooms should meet the requirements of a bathroom or shower room
The following table gives the number of wash hand basins, bathrooms/shower rooms and WCs that should be provided according to the number of people occupying the HMO:
| Number of occupants | Amenity level required |
|---|---|
| 1 to 4 people |
No requirement for wash hand basins in sleeping room / bedroom A minimum of 1 bathroom and 1 WC (the bathroom and WC may be combined) |
| 5 people |
1 wash hand basin is required in each sleeping room / bedroom (where practical) plus 1 bathroom AND 1 separate WC with wash hand basin (the WC can be contained within a second bathroom) |
| 6 to 10 people |
1 wash hand basin is required in each sleeping room / bedroom (where practical) plus 2 bathrooms AND 2 separate WCs with wash hand basins (1 of the WCs can be contained within 1 of the bathrooms) |
| 11 to 15 people |
1 wash hand basin is required in each sleeping room / bedroom (where practical) plus 3 bathrooms AND 3 separate WCs with wash hand basins ( 2 of the WCs can be contained within 2 of the bathrooms) |
Note - a wash hand basin is required in all bathrooms and in separate WCs
Bathroom and separate WC requirements
A bathroom means a room containing a bath or shower.
To comply with the regulations:
- each bathroom or shower room shall have a wash hand basin (minimum dimensions 560mm x 430mm) and either a bath (minimum dimensions 1700mm x 760mm) or a shower cubicle (minimum dimensions 800mm x 800mm) (Smaller wash hand basins can be accepted within WC compartments for hand washing only)
- each bath, shower cubicle and wash hand basin shall be provided with an adequate and constant supply of hot and cold water designed to ensure reasonable temperature control and connected to an appropriate drainage system
- each toilet shall be properly connected to the main foul drainage system
- each bath, shower cubicle and wash hand basin should be provided with adequate splashbacks (300mm to baths and wash hand basins, full heights to all shower cubicles or showers located over baths) with an adequate waterproof seal between the splashbacks and the fitting
Shower cubicles should be enclosed on three sides. Across the entrance a rail and waterproof curtain or hinged screen should be provided to deflect all water into the tray. Alternatively, provide an enclosed proprietary shower cubicle incorporating all the above.
- each bathroom or shower room shall be of an appropriate size to provide adequate changing and drying space for the users. Although there is no minimum size for a bathroom, generally bathrooms measuring less than 2m2 are more likely to contain hazards which pose a risk to the users. In addition, the layout of bathrooms is equally important as poorly located amenities can also create a risk to users. In a nutshell, a person using the bathroom should be able to change their clothes and dry themselves with ease and without colliding with walls or fixtures. For example, if your elbows are touching the walls either side when standing in the bathroom, it is likely the case officer will determine it is not adequate and improvement work will be required
- each bathroom or shower room shall be of an appropriate size to provide adequate changing and drying space for the users
- each bathroom or shower room shall be conveniently and suitably located in or in relation to the living accommodation in the HMO. The room should not be more than one floor distant from the sleeping accommodation
- each bathroom or shower room and WC should have a suitable floor covering that is slip resistant, impervious, easily cleansable and in good condition.
- in addition to any window, each bathroom or shower room is to have mechanical ventilation to the outside air at a minimum extraction rate of 15 litres per second
- each toilet in a separate compartment should have either an opening window equivalent to 1/20th of the floor area or mechanical ventilation at a minimum extraction rate of 6 litres per second
- each bathroom or shower room must have adequate fixed space heating capable of reaching and maintaining 22°C when the external temperature is -1°C, within one hour of being turned on. Heated towel rails are therefore in general insufficient as the only heating provision
Where there are no adequate shared washing facilities provided for a unit of living accommodation, an enclosed and adequately laid out and ventilated room with a toilet, wash hand basin and bath or fixed shower supplying adequate cold and constant hot water must be provided for the exclusive use of the occupiers of that unit, either –
(a) within the living accommodation; or
(b) within reasonable proximity to the living accommodation
These amenities should be located not more than 30 metres away on the same floor, or normally no more than one floor distant from the unit of accommodation.
Where bathroom facilities are provided at a higher level than the minimum required, they will still be required to comply with the council’s HMO standards and any relevant regulations. This includes, for example, providing a wash hand basin within a shower compartment or WC compartment.