What is an HMO?

A property let to three or more people from more than one household who share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet.

Typical examples are a house shared by four professionals, a flat let room by room, or a bedsit conversion. A family renting a whole house is not an HMO however many of them there are.

A large HMO, meaning five or more people from two or more households, always needs a mandatory licence. Below that it depends on whether your council runs an additional licensing scheme.