Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO)

Meaning of House in Multiple Occupation (HMO)

Your landlord has extra legal responsibilities if the house or flat you share with other tenants is a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO).

Read the meaning of a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) (opens new window)

Your home is a HMO if both of the following apply:

  • at least 3 tenants live there, forming more than 1 household
  • you share toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities with other tenants

Your home is a large HMO if both of the following apply:

  • at least 5 tenants live there, forming more than 1 household
  • you share toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities with other tenant

Large HMOs must be licensed.

A household is 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, for example grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings
  • step-parents and step-children.
Page last updated: 28 Jan 2022