{"id":993,"date":"2024-11-25T16:39:35","date_gmt":"2024-11-25T16:39:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/articles\/hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know\/"},"modified":"2025-05-22T13:04:39","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T13:04:39","slug":"hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"knowledge","link":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Do you need a HMO licence? Guide to HMO properties and house shares"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Letting an HMO property allows landlords to have more tenants and generate more rental income. However, HMO landlords have more rules and responsibilities to follow, such as licensing, overcrowding, and minimum size requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Read on to find out about how HMOs work and what you need to do to let one safely and successfully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex has-2-columns\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#meaning\">HMO meaning \u2013 what is a HMO?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#requirements\">HMO requirements for landlords<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#licence\">Do I need an HMO licence?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#3-tentants\">Do I need a HMO licence for 3 tenants?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#hmo-council-tax\">HMO Council Tax<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#insurance\">HMO landlord insurance<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"meaning\">HMO meaning \u2013 what is a HMO?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">HMO stands for house in multiple occupation. The HMO definition is a property which has three or more people from more than one household living there who share kitchen, bathroom, or toilet facilities. It\u2019s more commonly known by tenants as a house share.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The government defines a household as a single person, or members of the same family living in the same property. For example, three unrelated people in three rooms would make up three households, while a property with two couples would make up two households.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">HMOs can take many forms. They&#8217;re often a shared property where the tenants aren&#8217;t related to each other, or a house split into several rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For a property to be considered an HMO, rent must be paid, and it must be the occupants\u2019 main residence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There\u2019s a separate category of property known as a large HMO. A property is a large HMO if it has at least five tenants forming more than one household, and the tenants share toilet, bathroom, or kitchen facilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-azure-200-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-30c80bf8 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:35px;margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"requirements\">HMO requirements for landlords<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you let an HMO, you still need to meet all your <a href=\"\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/rules-for-landlords-2026\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1066\" >legal responsibilities<\/a> as a landlord, such as <a href=\"\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/deposit-protection-scheme-a-landlords-guide\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"937\" >protecting deposits<\/a> and meeting <a href=\"\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/what-is-an-epc-rating\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"989\" >energy efficiency rules<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, landlords of HMOs have a number of extra responsibilities. These include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">maintaining and repairing communal areas and facilities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">installing proper fire safety equipment, including mains-powered <a href=\"\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/landlord-smoke-alarm-requirements\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"958\" >smoke alarms<\/a> and a heat detector in kitchens<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">carrying out an annual gas safety check<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">making sure the property isn&#8217;t overcrowded<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">providing cooking and washing facilities suitable for the number of tenants living in the property<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">providing enough waste bins for the number of tenants in the property<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/landlord-electrical-safety\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1470\" >checking the electrical installations<\/a> at least once every five years<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">completing a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/fire-safety-regulations-for-landlords\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"794\" >fire risk assessment<\/a> \u2013 you should contact your council to make sure this is conducted properly<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">making sure there are accessible escape routes that are kept clear at all times<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s important to note that these are legal responsibilities for HMO landlords no matter what\u2019s stated in the <a href=\"\/knowledge\/tenants\/assured-shorthold-tenancy-agreement\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1325\" >tenancy agreement<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"hmoregulationswhatelsedolandlordsneedtodo\">HMO regulations \u2013 what else do landlords need to do?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2018, the government introduced minimum bedroom sizes for HMO properties that need a licence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Read our in-depth guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/hmo-requirements-for-bedroom-sizes\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"981\" >what minimum room sizes are in HMOs<\/a>, overcrowding in HMOs, and how you can comply with the rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"licence\">Do I need an HMO licence?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"nba-body-001\">\n<\/div>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All large HMOs must be licenced. So, if your property is let to five or more unrelated tenants, and has shared tenant facilities, you must apply for an HMO licence. You\u2019ll also need a separate licence for each HMO you rent out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even if you don\u2019t have a large HMO, some councils require HMO properties to have a licence. Each licence will specify the maximum number of people that can occupy the property and how long it\u2019s valid for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You should also remember that some councils require all landlords to be registered, regardless of whether or not their properties are HMOs. If you\u2019re in doubt, check with your local council first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-azure-300-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-69910985 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:10px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-tentants\"><strong>Do I need a HMO licence for 3 tenants?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you have under three tenants in your property, you won\u2019t need to apply for a HMO licence. However, some councils may require you to have a \u2018selective licence\u2019. Check with your local council if you\u2019re not sure.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"howcanhmolandlordsapplyforalicence\">How can HMO landlords apply for a licence?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You should apply for an HMO licence through your local council. Individual councils will set the terms of the licence. You can apply yourself, or you can ask your letting agent to do it for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The landlord must inform a number of different parties when applying for a licence, and you must also pass on the details of these people to the council. They are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">the freeholder of the property, if there is one, or any other owners of the property<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">tenants who have more than three years left on their existing tenancy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">the lender, if you have a <a href=\"\/knowledge\/landlord-tax\/buy-to-let-mortgage-rates-explained\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1358\" >buy-to-let mortgage<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can find out how to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/house-in-multiple-occupation-licence\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">apply for your HMO licence here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"cost\"><strong>HMO licence cost<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The cost of an HMO licence is set by individual councils. It\u2019s normally charged as a fee for applying, and will be non-refundable regardless of whether or not the licence is granted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example, the cost of an HMO licence in Brighton is \u00a31,061 for five occupants, rising to \u00a31,514 for properties with up to 14 occupants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meanwhile, costs for HMO licences in Newcastle and Birmingham start at \u00a31,000 and \u00a31,125 respectively. There are often discounts available for accredited landlords and renewals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many councils charge more if you\u2019ve been prompted to apply for a licence, so it\u2019s important to make the application yourself as soon as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">HMO licences normally last for a period of five years. At least once during that period, the council will inspect the property to make sure that it doesn\u2019t have any health and safety hazards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"hmoruleswhatarethepenaltiesfornothavingalicence\">HMO rules \u2013 what are the penalties for not having a licence?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you&#8217;re the landlord of an HMO that should be licensed but isn&#8217;t, you&#8217;re committing a criminal offence and there are <a href=\"\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/hmo-licence-fines-and-other-fines-for-landlords\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"955\" >HMO licence fines<\/a> you should be aware of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You could be prosecuted and get an unlimited fine. You could also be ordered to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/what-is-a-rent-repayment-order\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"26433\" >repay up to 12 months\u2019 rent<\/a> or, if the tenants are in receipt of housing benefit, you could be ordered to repay 12 months\u2019 housing benefit to the council.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you break the terms of your licence, you could be fined up to \u00a35,000. If you break the terms by renting to more than the number of tenants allowed on the licence, you could be fined up to \u00a320,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What\u2019s more, it\u2019s important to understand that if your HMO isn\u2019t properly licensed, you may not be able to evict tenants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"hmo-council-tax\">HMO Council Tax<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether or not you or your tenants pay Council Tax for your HMO depends on the tenancy agreements issued. If each occupant living in the property has their own tenancy agreement, you as the owner will be responsible for paying the Council Tax.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, if your HMO property has only one tenancy agreement covering all of the occupants (with each of their names on it), the tenants will be responsible for paying Council Tax.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"insurance\">HMO landlord insurance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While there isn\u2019t specific <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/landlord-insurance\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"1608\" >insurance designed for HMO landlords<\/a>, it can still be a good idea for you to get landlord cover. This can cover you for things such as accidental damage to your property or even property owners\u2019 liability insurance \u2013 all issues which can affect HMO landlords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Let us know about your experience with renting HMO properties in the comments.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-more-guides-for-landlords\">More guides for landlords<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"\/knowledge\/tenants\/illegal-subletting-guide-for-landlords\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1004\" ><strong>Illegal subletting \u2013 what do landlords need to know?<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"\/knowledge\/buying-and-selling\/how-to-remortgage-a-buy-to-let\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"984\" ><strong>How can landlords get a buy-to-let remortgage?<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/what-is-an-epc-rating\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"989\" ><strong>Energy efficiency guide for landlords \u2013 what is an EPC rating?<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"\/landlord-insurance\/faq\/do-i-need-landlord-insurance\/\"><strong>Why do I need landlord insurance?<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-azure-200-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-94e519ba wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\" id=\"getsetwithtailoredlandlordcover\">Get set with tailored landlord cover<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">Over 200,000 UK landlord policies, a 9\/10 customer rating and claims handled by an award-winning team. Looking to switch or start a new policy? Run a quick <a href=\"\/landlord-insurance\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"1608\" >landlord insurance quote<\/a> today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-a89b3969 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/quote.simplybusiness.co.uk\/landlord\">Start your quote<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Photo: BullRun\/stock.adobe.com<\/em><\/p>\n\n<div id=\"nba-body-end\">\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Renting out a HMO property? Here\u2019s all you need to know about licences.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":26282,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"sb_hreflang":"","sb_hreflang_url":"","disable_breadcrumbs":false,"sb_breadcrumbs":[],"sb_reviewed_by":"","sb_review_date":"","sb_enable_content_gating":true,"footnotes":""},"categories":[114,334],"hidden-category":[],"coauthors":[20],"class_list":["post-993","knowledge","type-knowledge","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-landlord-news","category-landlord-regulation"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.2 (Yoast SEO v27.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What is a HMO? Guide to HMO properties and house shares<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What do landlords need to know about HMO licensing, regulations, responsibilities, and penalties for non-compliance? Read our in-depth guide.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Do you need an HMO licence?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Renting out a HMO property? Here\u2019s all you need to know about licences\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Simply Business UK\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/simplybusiness\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-05-22T13:04:39+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/06\/hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Do you need a HMO licence? Guide to HMO properties and house shares\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@simplybusiness\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"Conor Shilling\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know\/\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Conor Shilling\",\"description\":\"Conor Shilling is a professional writer with over 10 years\u2019 experience across the property, small business, and insurance sectors. A trained journalist, Conor\u2019s previous experience includes writing for several leading online property trade publications. Conor has worked at Simply Business as a Copywriter for three years, specialising in the buy-to-let market, landlords, and small business finance. <a href=\\\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/conor-shilling-b646632a\/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noopener\\\">Connect with Conor on LinkedIn.<\/a>\"},\"headline\":\"Do you need a HMO licence? Guide to HMO properties and house shares\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-11-25T16:39:35+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-05-22T13:04:39+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know\/\"},\"wordCount\":1296,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/06\/residential-landlord.png\",\"articleSection\":[\"Landlord news\",\"Regulation and legislation for landlords\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know\/\",\"name\":\"What is a HMO? Guide to HMO properties and house shares\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/06\/residential-landlord.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-11-25T16:39:35+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-05-22T13:04:39+00:00\",\"description\":\"What do landlords need to know about HMO licensing, regulations, responsibilities, and penalties for non-compliance? Read our in-depth guide.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/06\/residential-landlord.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/06\/residential-landlord.png\",\"width\":1401,\"height\":901,\"caption\":\"Image credit: A. Frank\/stock.adobe.com\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Knowledge\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/%category%\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Do you need a HMO licence? Guide to HMO properties and house shares\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/\",\"name\":\"Simply Business UK\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/#\/schema\/person\/73ec77668d0ec554cd7df8942c664049\",\"name\":\"elliottstocks\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/simply-business\/dist\/images\/default-author-avatar.webp9df6147f02078f0218660330fdfbacf3\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/simply-business\/dist\/images\/default-author-avatar.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/simply-business\/dist\/images\/default-author-avatar.webp\",\"caption\":\"elliottstocks\"}},{\"@type\":\"PostalAddress\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know\/#local-main-place-address\",\"streetAddress\":\"Hylo, 105 Bunhill Row\",\"addressLocality\":\"London\",\"postalCode\":\"EC1Y 8LZ\",\"addressCountry\":\"GB\"},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know\/#local-main-organization-logo\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/05\/logo.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/05\/logo.png\",\"width\":533,\"height\":187,\"caption\":\"Simply Business UK\"}]}<\/script>\n<meta name=\"geo.placename\" content=\"London\" \/>\n<meta name=\"geo.region\" content=\"United Kingdom (UK)\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"What is a HMO? Guide to HMO properties and house shares","description":"What do landlords need to know about HMO licensing, regulations, responsibilities, and penalties for non-compliance? Read our in-depth guide.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"Do you need an HMO licence?","og_description":"Renting out a HMO property? Here\u2019s all you need to know about licences","og_url":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know\/","og_site_name":"Simply Business UK","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/simplybusiness","article_modified_time":"2025-05-22T13:04:39+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/06\/hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know.jpg","type":"","width":"","height":""}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_title":"Do you need a HMO licence? Guide to HMO properties and house shares","twitter_site":"@simplybusiness","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"7 minutes","Written by":"Conor Shilling"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know\/"},"author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Conor Shilling","description":"Conor Shilling is a professional writer with over 10 years\u2019 experience across the property, small business, and insurance sectors. A trained journalist, Conor\u2019s previous experience includes writing for several leading online property trade publications. Conor has worked at Simply Business as a Copywriter for three years, specialising in the buy-to-let market, landlords, and small business finance. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/conor-shilling-b646632a\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Connect with Conor on LinkedIn.<\/a>"},"headline":"Do you need a HMO licence? Guide to HMO properties and house shares","datePublished":"2024-11-25T16:39:35+00:00","dateModified":"2025-05-22T13:04:39+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know\/"},"wordCount":1296,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/06\/residential-landlord.png","articleSection":["Landlord news","Regulation and legislation for landlords"],"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know\/","url":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know\/","name":"What is a HMO? Guide to HMO properties and house shares","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/06\/residential-landlord.png","datePublished":"2024-11-25T16:39:35+00:00","dateModified":"2025-05-22T13:04:39+00:00","description":"What do landlords need to know about HMO licensing, regulations, responsibilities, and penalties for non-compliance? Read our in-depth guide.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/06\/residential-landlord.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/06\/residential-landlord.png","width":1401,"height":901,"caption":"Image credit: A. Frank\/stock.adobe.com"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Knowledge","item":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/%category%\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Do you need a HMO licence? Guide to HMO properties and house shares"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/","name":"Simply Business UK","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/#\/schema\/person\/73ec77668d0ec554cd7df8942c664049","name":"elliottstocks","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/simply-business\/dist\/images\/default-author-avatar.webp9df6147f02078f0218660330fdfbacf3","url":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/simply-business\/dist\/images\/default-author-avatar.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/simply-business\/dist\/images\/default-author-avatar.webp","caption":"elliottstocks"}},{"@type":"PostalAddress","@id":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know\/#local-main-place-address","streetAddress":"Hylo, 105 Bunhill Row","addressLocality":"London","postalCode":"EC1Y 8LZ","addressCountry":"GB"},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know\/#local-main-organization-logo","url":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/05\/logo.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/05\/logo.png","width":533,"height":187,"caption":"Simply Business UK"}]},"geo.placename":"London","geo.region":"United Kingdom (UK)"},"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"http:\/\/simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Do you need a HMO licence? Guide to HMO properties and house shares","url":"http:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/landlord-regulation\/hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/06\/residential-landlord.png?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/06\/residential-landlord.png"},"articleSection":"Landlord news","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Conor Shilling"}],"creator":["Conor Shilling"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Simply Business UK","logo":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/04\/icon-512x512-1.png"},"keywords":[],"dateCreated":"2024-11-25T16:39:35Z","datePublished":"2024-11-25T16:39:35Z","dateModified":"2025-05-22T13:04:39Z"},"rendered":"<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"wp-parsely-metadata\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"headline\":\"Do you need a HMO licence? Guide to HMO properties and house shares\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\\\/knowledge\\\/landlord-regulation\\\/hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know\\\/\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\\\/knowledge\\\/landlord-regulation\\\/hmo-properties-everything-landlords-need-to-know\\\/\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2017\\\/06\\\/residential-landlord.png?w=150&h=150&crop=1\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2017\\\/06\\\/residential-landlord.png\"},\"articleSection\":\"Landlord news\",\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Conor Shilling\"}],\"creator\":[\"Conor Shilling\"],\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"Simply Business UK\",\"logo\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2024\\\/04\\\/icon-512x512-1.png\"},\"keywords\":[],\"dateCreated\":\"2024-11-25T16:39:35Z\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-11-25T16:39:35Z\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-05-22T13:04:39Z\"}<\/script>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/simplybusiness.co.uk\/p.js"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/knowledge\/993","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/knowledge"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/knowledge"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=993"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/knowledge\/993\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36719,"href":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/knowledge\/993\/revisions\/36719"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26282"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=993"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=993"},{"taxonomy":"hidden-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hidden-category?post=993"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=993"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}