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Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)

What's a house in multiple occupation (HMO)?

The Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (Prescribed Description) (England) Order 2018 defines the following types of property as a house in multiple occupation (HMO):

  • a house or flat let to three or more tenants who form two or more households while sharing a kitchen, bathroom or toilet - if you rent out a property to five or more tenants who form two or more households, you must apply for a HMO licence
  • a building converted entirely into self-contained flats if the conversion fails to meet the standards of the 1991 Building Regulations and more than one-third of the flats are let on short-term tenancies

 

 

Council inspections of houses in multiple occupations (HMOs)

When carrying out inspections of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), the council's housing enforcement team use the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) to assess conditions within the property.

View the Government's guide to HHSRS

Standards of Amenities

All HMOs must comply with the council's standards of amenities.

The standards set out the basic requirements for size, heating, facilities, etc

Download a copy of the council's Standards of Amenities

 

In this section:

  1. You are here: What's a house in multiple occupation (HMO)? What's a house in multiple occupation (HMO)?
  2. You are here: Do I need a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licence? Do I need a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licence?
  3. You are here: Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Regulations Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Regulations
  4. You are here: Council inspections of houses in multiple occupations (HMOs) Council inspections of houses in multiple occupations (HMOs)
  5. You are here: Register of licensed HMOs in Rugby Register of licensed HMOs in Rugby