Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)
A House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) is a property occupied by members of more than one household who share amenities and facilities, see a Landlord's Guide to Houses in Multiple Occupation. This includes bedsits, flats, shared houses, and those in which students live. However, there are a few exemptions. For example:
- Buildings controlled or managed by public sector bodies
- Buildings managed by educational establishments (see regulations which specify educational establishments exempt from the HMO definition)
- Buildings occupied by religious communities
Licensing of HMOs
Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO's) became mandatory in April 2006 with the introduction of the Housing Act 2004. This means that larger higher risk HMOs will probably require a licence from the local authority, if they meet all of the following criteria;
- Three or more storeys
- Five or more occupants
- Two or more separate households
The Act also allows for Additional and Selective licensing of properties which means that particular types of properties, or properties in certain designated areas, will also have to be licensed. Licences can last up to five years and will have conditions attached to them that must be complied with.
If you believe you own a property that is subject to Licensing, you should contact the Private Rented Sector Housing Team at the Local Authority in which the property is situated (see below). Failure to obtain a licence for a property that meets the criteria for licensing can result in prosecution and a fine being imposed.
Authority contact details [16kb] - for the licensing team at each Authority which you should contact if you believe your property needs licensing.
View an example Licensing Application Form [1.43mb]. Please note: Local Authorities may have their own variations on this form, we advise landlords to contact them directly.
Visit the Downloads page for other relevant documents.
Visit the HMO Licensing Database