Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)
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Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)
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A property is classed as a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) if all of the following apply:
- rent is paid, or some other form of consideration, for at least one person's occupation
- there are 3 or more people living in the property
- one or more of those people are not of the same household, specifically at least one person is not related to any other person who lives in the property
- at least 2 people who are not related to each other share the use of kitchen, bathroom or lavatory facilities
- the building is the occupants' main residence (or should be treated as such)
Examples of HMOs
Certain properties that have been converted into self-contained flats are also deemed to be HMOs or the Council may have declared a property an HMO.
If you and your family live in the house in question as owner-occupiers, you can have up to 2 lodgers without the property being considered an HMO.
Placing your tenants on a joint tenancy agreement does not cause them to be related to each other. For example, if a house is rented to 3 or more students on a joint tenancy notice, the property will still be classed as an HMO.
Licensing requirements
A House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) might include:
- a house let as individual bed-sitting rooms
- a group of rooms on each floor let to single occupants
- hostels, some hotels and guesthouses
- lodgings and shared houses
- houses converted into self-contained flats
Learn more about HMOs on Shelter’s website.
Last updated 17 April 2026