Quickly check if your property is an HMO

Houses 

• A house occupied by 5 students (2 of whom are living together), who share a kitchen and bathroom.  
  • Licensable because there are 5 occupiers in 4 households sharing basic amenities. Find our more about HMOs. 
• Two bedroom bungalow shared by 2 couples.  
  • Not licensable because there are only 4 occupants. 
• A house where a couple with two children and a lodger share the kitchen, living room, and bathroom .
  • Not licensable because, even with 5 people, the landlord's family counts as only 1 person 

Converted houses 

• A multi-storey house with a self-contained basement flat for the landlord and partner. The upper floors have 3 self-contained studio flats and 1 non-self-contained flat (kitchen on the landing, but not shared). 
  • Licensable because at least 5 people live in the building in four separate households (landlord and family count as 1). If all flats had been self-contained the property would not be in scope. 
• A house converted into 2 non-self-contained flats occupied by 2 couples and their 2 children. Each couple has a separate tenancy agreement. The families share amenities. One of the couples is the cousin of one of the other couple.  
  • Not licensable because it is occupied by a single household by way of an extended family. 
• Multi-storey house converted into self-contained flats owned by separate leaseholders with long leases 
  • Possibly licensable. Individual flats may be in scope but only if they are occupied by 5 or more people from 2 separate households. 
• Flats above shops, like a fish and chip shop with 5 bedsits above, sharing a kitchen and bathroom 
  • Licensable because at least 5 people in 5 households share basic amenities.
• Self-contained flat above 24 hour kebab shop. At least 6 occupiers sharing 3 bedrooms plus living room. All employed in the business and none pay rent.  
  • Licensable because 6 occupiers share facilities. Rent isn't relevant since their stay is linked to their job. 
• A 3-storey block of flats above shops with 10 self-contained flats. Five flats are rented out, and 3 have at least 5 people in 2 or more households. 
  • Not licensable because licensing does not apply to purpose built blocks with 3 or more self-contained flats. 

Purpose built blocks 

• A purpose-built development with 30 units for singles and couples, including self-contained and studio flats, plus some non-self-contained studio flats with a shared kitchen/diner. 
  • Licensable because, even though it's purpose-built, some facilities are shared between households. Purpose built blocks are only excluded where all flats are self-contained. 
• A flat on the sixth floor owned by a long leaseholder and let to 5 sharers in a 10-storey tower block of 30 flats. 
  • Not licensable because licensing does not apply to purpose built blocks with 3 or more self-contained flats. 

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