House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Policy

A House in Multiple Occupation is defined in Section 254 of the Housing Act 2004 and can be described as "a building or part of a building which is occupied by 3 or more unrelated persons forming more than one household and in which more than one household shares an amenity (or the building lacks an amenity) such as a bathroom, toilet or cooking facilities".

The definition of a HMO encompasses buildings that are occupied as bedsits, hostels, shared houses and sometimes bed and breakfast accommodation that is a person's only or main residence. It can in certain circumstances include households that offer rooms to lodgers who share the other household facilities, (For a house let to lodgers to be classed as a HMO there must be a resident landlord and 3 or more lodgers sharing facilities).

Following the change in the definition of a HMO which was introduced by the Housing Act 2004 it is possible that 'new' HMOs have been brought about by people sharing houses in groups, people such as students, professional working people, and migrant workers.

With effect from 1 October 2018 Mandatory Licensing of HMOs will no longer be limited to certain HMOs that are three or more storeys high, but, will now include buildings with one or two storeys having 5 or more occupants living in 2 or more households who share facilities i.e. kitchen, bathroom will require a licence.