Amenity Standards for Privately Rented dwellings

This is where all or some of the individual units of living accommodation/ bedsits in a house in multiple occuparion (HMO ) or shared house do not contain facilities for the cooking of food. 

• Sinks

  • Minimum Standard - defined as a fixed impervious sink with a drainer; It should be provided with an adequate and wholesome supply cold water and an adequate supply of constant hot water
    • 1 sink up to 5 occupants
    • 1 extra sink per 4 occupants and part of thereafter

• Cookers

  • Minimum Standard - a cooker should comprise of an electric or gas hob with 4 rings, an oven and grill
    • 1 cooker up to 5 occupants
    • 1 extra cooker per 4 occupants and part of thereafter

• Electric sockets

  • Minimum Standard - 30-amp supply for an electric cooker. Points should be set at a convenient height and in a safe position
    • 6 sockets (3 doubles) Additional dedicated sockets are required for a cooker, refrigerator and washing machine
    • an additional double for each two persons over five sharing. Additional sockets are required for a cooker, refrigerator and washing machine

• Work tops for food preparation

  • Minimum Standard - work tops should be secure, in good repair, fixed and of an impervious material
    • 500mm (length) x 600mm (width) per user to a maximum requirement of 2.5m length
    • additional 500mm length per user

• Cupboards for the storage of kitchen and cooking utensils

  • Note: The space below the sink is not acceptable to comply with this standard.
  • a floor-based food storage cupboard 500mm wide and standard depth and height or a wall mounted food storage cupboard 1000mm wide and standard depth and height should be provided per person
  • capacity to be increased proportionately for each additional occupant

• Refrigerators with an adequate freezer compartment, or where the freezer compartment is not adequate separate freezer

  • Minimum Standard - a large standard combined fridge/freezer refrigeration with a minimum capacity of 0.15m³ (a standard refrigerator)
    • up to and Including 5 people - A refrigerator with a minimum capacity of 0.15m3 and a freezer with a minimum capacity of 0.11m³
    • more than 5 people - Additional fridge freezer capacity to be increased proportionately for each additional occupant

• Appropriate refuse disposal facilities

  • the refuse should not cause problems of hygiene or attract pests and should not obstruct the means of escape in case of fire
  • enough refuse receptacles must be provided for the storage of refuse awaiting collection both internally and externally.

• Appropriate extractor fans

  • electrical extraction in accordance with approved document F under Building Regulations 2006

• Appropriate fire blankets

  • to be supplied and sited in accordance with fire safety guidance

• Appropriate fire doors

  • to be supplied and sited in accordance with fire safety guidance

• Appropriate surface finishes

  • kitchen floors must be water resistant, smooth, continuous, and free from any cracks or crevices as to facilitate easy cleaning (for example ceramic or vinyl floor tiles or linoleum flooring)
  • kitchen walls adjacent to cookers, sinks and food preparation areas shall be provided with impervious splash backs
  • kitchen ceilings shall be in good repair

Please note:

• all kitchens should be suitably located, ideally not more than one floor distance from the living and sleeping accommodation
• see the Borough Council's publication Fire Precautions in Dwellings for guidance on fire safety requirements in HMOs.