Houses in Multiple Occupation

Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO)

If you rent rooms or flats within a single property to at least three tenants or more, who form more than one household then it is likely to be a House in Multiple Occupation.

HMO Licensing

It is a legal requirement under the Housing Act 2004 for certain HMOs to have a license. If a HMO is all of the following it will require a license:

• a property with three or more storeys, and
• it is occupied by five or more tenants, forming more than one household, and
• where one or more facilities is shared i.e. kitchen, bathroom or toilet

HMO which do not require a license

Other HMOs which fall outside the above definition although they do not require a license will need to comply with the relevant legislation and standards. This includes the provision of facilities for the number of occupiers. As a general rule one bathroom and kitchen should be provided for every five occupants. Fire detection and protection would be required; the exact requirement can only be made after a risk assessment of the property has been carried out by a Council Officer.