Houses in multiple occupation

A house that is arranged in a number of separate occupancies may well be classed as a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO). HMO’s make up a significant part of the national stock of privately rented housing.

Examples of HMOs: -

  • Houses subdivided into bedsits;
  • Houses divided into flats, whether self-contained or not;
  • Bed and Breakfast establishments catering for people with no other permanent place of residence;
  • Certain types of hostel and Halls of Residence.

Standards in HMOs can vary considerably. Some offer perfectly good, safe and healthy accommodation. However, because HMOs can present a greater risk than normal single-family housing, they are subject to additional legal control.

We have powers to require HMO landlords to: -

  • provide proper means of escape in case of fire
  • provide adequate toilets, kitchen, water supplies, baths, showers, heating and so on
  • reduce over-occupancy
  • maintain proper standards of management

The law allows Councils to produce standards for amenity levels and fire safety measures in HMOs. Councils can require landlords to comply with these standards and, if they fail to do so, they can do the necessary work at the landlord’s expense and/or prosecute. Some Councils operate Registration Schemes to control standards in HMOs in their areas. Many Councils have HMO Inspection Programmes, aimed at ensuring that houses are upgraded and then kept up to standard. All Councils give free advice and information to landlords and letting agents on the standards they require and how to reach them. They also respond to complaints about substandard conditions in HMOs.

For more information please see the links below:

Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation in England: A guide for landlords and managers

Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation in England: A guide for tenants

Page last updated on 26 March 2009