House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Policy
Exemptions from Houses in Multiple Occupation definition
Certain types of properties are exempted from being defined as HMOs and these include:
- A property where the landlord and their household lives with up to two tenants.
- Buildings which are occupied entirely by freeholders or long leaseholders.
- Buildings which are owned or managed by a public body (such as the NHS or police), a local Housing authority or a registered social landlord.
- Building where the residential accommodation is ancillary to the main use of the building, for example, religious buildings, conference centres etc.
- Buildings which are already regulated (and where the description of the building is specified in regulations), such as care homes, bail hostels etc. (Domestic refuges are not exempt).