The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched a consultation on extending mandatory Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licensing to properties occupied by three or more unrelated people forming two or more households, down from the current threshold of five people forming two households. The consultation also proposes a new national register of HMO licences, accessible to tenants and prospective tenants.
HMO licensing under Part 2 of the Housing Act 2004 currently requires landlords of larger HMOs to obtain a licence from their local council, meet minimum room size standards (6.51m² for a single adult), and comply with management regulations. Councils may also apply additional licensing schemes to smaller HMOs in their area. Operating an unlicensed HMO is a civil penalty offence carrying fines of up to £30,000; tenants in unlicensed HMOs may apply for a rent repayment order of up to 12 months' rent under the Housing and Planning Act 2016.
If you rent a shared house, check whether your property should be licensed using your council's HMO licensing register. See the housing disrepair guide for related tenant enforcement rights and the Renters Rights Act news for the broader 2026 housing law changes.