Houses in Multiple Occupancy

All landlords who intend renting out a property to three or more adults who are not part of the same ‘household’ are required by law to apply for an HMO Licence. The licence application is made to the local authority and there are different regulations covering HMOs and large HMOs. Landlords must apply for an HMO licence before they start letting the property, otherwise a fine may be incurred.

Your property is a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) if both of the following apply:

  • You have at least three tenants living in the property, forming more than one household
  • The toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities are shared between the tenants

Your property is a large HMO if all of the following apply:

  • The property is at least three storeys high
  • You have at least five tenants living in the property, forming more than one household
  • The toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities are shared between the tenants

A household:

  • Is defined in the regulations as either a single person or members of the same family who live together
  • A family includes people who are:
    • married or living together – including people in same-sex relationships
    • relatives or half-relatives – e.g. grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings
    • step-parents and step-children

For further information about the regulations covering HMOs, including landlord responsibilities and licence applications, go to:

General:

https://www.gov.uk/private-renting/houses-in-multiple-occupation

Scotland:

https://www.gov.uk/house-in-multiple-occupation-licence-scotland

http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/privaterent/landlords/hmo

England:

https://www.gov.uk/house-in-multiple-occupation-licence