Do I need HMO for 3 tenants?

Asked by: Angel Raynor  |  Last update: July 21, 2023
Score: 4.4/5 (28 votes)

If there are three or more unrelated tenants living in at least two separate households within your property, sharing the toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities, this is classed as an HMO.

Are 3 people HMO?

A house in multiple occupation ( HMO ) is a property rented out by at least 3 people who are not from 1 'household' (for example a family) but share facilities like the bathroom and kitchen. It's sometimes called a 'house share'.

Can 3 friends rent a house together UK?

Instead, you'll be expected to let the house using the standard assured shorthold tenancy. That doesn't mean that you can't let the house to three different people, but it does mean that they should all be named as joint tenants on one tenancy agreement.

Can a 2 bedroom flat be a HMO?

Since the Housing Act of 2004, all HMO's (Houses of Multiple Occupation) have fallen under the regulations of the act. The regulations cover any investment property where two or more unrelated people share – so even if you have a 2-bed flat and you have 2 unrelated people sharing it; its technically a HMO.

Do I need a HMO?

You will need a mandatory HMO licence if your property meets the standard test, self-contained flat test or converted building test HMO definition (section 254 of the Housing Act 2004) and is occupied by five or more people.

What Type Of Tenant Should You Put In Your HMO? | Simon Zutshi

27 related questions found

Who is exempt from HMO licensing?

The exemptions include: Two persons – any building occupied by only two persons in two households. A property where the landlord and their household lives with up to two lodgers. Buildings occupied entirely by freeholders or long leaseholders (or 2/3rd occupied in the case of a section 257 HMO)

Do I need a licence for a 4 bed HMO?

Do I need to get an HMO licence? Since the rule changes made in October 1 2018, all HMOs must have a licence. You must apply for a licence if 3 or more unrelated people occupy at least two different households.

What are the new HMO regulations?

What are the licensing changes? The new mandatory licensing policy from October 2018 will apply to HMOs that are occupied by five or more people, comprising individuals living in two or more separate households – frequently but not exclusive to groups of cohabiting adults – regardless of the number of storeys.

What constitutes multiple occupancy?

An HMO is a building or a part of a building that is occupied by more than two persons who are living as more than one household. The most common type of HMO is where two or more unrelated persons live in a home, paying rent for their own room, and sharing a kitchen and/or bathroom.

Is a flat share an HMO?

House in Multiple Occupation

What is an HMO? In simple terms a "house in multiple occupation" is a flat or house share. However, although nearly all HMOs are flatshares, not all flatshares are HMOs! Think of HMO as more of a legal definition rather than purely descriptive.

Is 3 friends living together HMO?

Your home is a house in multiple occupation ( HMO ) if both of the following apply: at least 3 tenants live there, forming more than 1 household.

Can a landlord limit the number of occupants UK?

4.1 As your landlord we must comply with government and local legislation, including but not limited to the following: 4.1. 1 Planning restrictions. These can limit the number and type of occupants.

Does HMO need communal area?

Yes, that's right there are minimum standards that a kitchen and living space has to be. This varies depending on the number of tenants living in the property and obviously the more tenants you have, the larger the communal areas must be.

How many people can live together without HMO?

Is your home a house in multiple occupation? Your home is probably an HMO if 3 or more unrelated people live there and: there are at least 2 separate households. living areas, such as a kitchen or bathroom, are shared.

Does HMO apply to couples?

Couples married to each other or living together as husband and wife (or in an equivalent relationship in the case of persons of the same sex) Relatives living together, including parents, grandparents, children (and step-children), grandchildren, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces or cousins.

Is a joint tenancy a HMO?

These are rules (which were discussed here) which all HMO landlords need to comply with. But, some landlords and agents ask, do they apply to properties let under joint tenancies which are an HMO? (Note by the way that if you are letting to a couple or family members sharing – this is not an HMO.

Can a landlord live in a HMO?

It's a common misconception that the HMO regulations only apply to flatshares where the landlord doesn't live in the property – it's perfectly possible to have an HMO as a live in landlord too.

Do you need planning permission for HMO?

The good news, then, is that you generally don't need planning permission when converting from a dwelling house or flat to an HMO property, which is a small shared house of up to six unrelated individuals.

Do I need a HMO licence for Airbnb?

You will need a mandatory house in multiple occupation (HMO) licence for your rented property if: 5 or more people live there. in 2 or more households. and share amenities such as a kitchen, toilet or bathroom.

How many bathrooms should a HMO have?

Health and Safety. Health and safety regulation for an HMO typically requires one bathroom for every four tenants. If you have five tenants you will probably need to supply separate toilets from the main bathroom in the main bathroom suite.

Do you need fire doors in HMO?

If your property is an HMO – a House in Multiple Occupation – then yes, fire doors are legally required in your HMO property. HMOs are usually properties occupied by three or more tenants from two or more different households.

Do all tenants need to be on the tenancy agreement UK?

The tenancy agreement should be signed by all tenants and your landlord. If there are joint tenants, each tenant should receive a copy of the agreement.

Do two couples need HMO?

The good news is - you don't. The Housing Executive doesn't require you to register as an HMO if the house is "occupied by persons who comprise no more than two families." One more person outside of those two couples and their families would tip the balance, so just be aware of that if they ask to move anyone else in.

Do I need a HMO licence for lodgers?

You will need a licence for a shared house or flats where three or more people share facilities such as a kitchen or bathroom. The property must consist of two or more households. If there are two or more households and 5 or more people sharing facilities, you will require a mandatory licence.

What happens if you break HMO rules?

Anyone failing to comply with licence conditions commits an offence punishable on summary conviction to an unlimited fine per offence.