An HMO is when you live in a house or flat and share a kitchen or bathroom with at least 2 other people who are not part of your household.

Your home is probably an HMO if you answer ‘yes’ to both questions:

1. Do you share your home with at least 2 other people?

This includes everyone who lives in the property as their main home.

The type of agreement with the landlord does not matter as long as at least one person pays rent.

For example, you could all be joint tenants or have separate tenancy or licence agreements for your rooms.

2. Do you share living areas with at least one other household?

A household lives as a separate unit.

For example, a household could be a:

• couple

• single person

• family with children

Living areas are kitchens, bathrooms and toilets. You do not have to share all of them.

Shared accommodation for students

Shared accommodation for students can be an HMO if it's privately owned.

Student accommodation owned by universities and other educational institutions is not an HMO.