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If you rent out a property to 3 or more unrelated people who share the bathroom or toilet and kitchen, you must register it as a house in multiple occupation (HMO). An HMO, also known as a house share, must meet certain requirements and be registered with your local council.

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Your responsibilities as a landlord

As a landlord of an HMO, you must:

• ensure the property is not overcrowded
• make sure the property is fit for multiple occupants, ie there is enough cooking space and washing facilities
• provide your local council with all the necessary information about your HMO

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Fees for HMOs

You'll have to pay a fee for registration and for any future renewals. Registration is usually valid for 5 years, after this time you can make a renewal. The cost is based on the number of occupants at the property; the more occupants there are, the higher the fee will be. .

How to register your HMO

You can register your HMO by contacting your local council. . 

Fines and penalties

If you breach any of your agreements with your local council, it may result in a fine, including:

• up to £1,000 for failing to provide the information requested
• up to £5,000 for providing false information
• up to £2,500 if found guilty of overcrowding
• up to £5,000 if someone is living in a part of the property that is deemed unfit for occupation (you'll then be charged up to 10% of the fine every day this continues)