Harrogate Borough Council is committed to protecting the
health, safety and welfare of all residents who live in 'Houses
in Multiple Occupation'.
What is a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO)?
The Housing Act 2004 introduced a new definition of what
constitutes a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO).
An HMO means a building (or part of a building, such as a flat),
that:
- Is occupied by more than one household and where more than one
household shares, or lacks an amenity, such as a bathroom, toilet
or cooking facilities.
- Is occupied by more than one household and which is a converted
building, but not entirely into self contained flats (whether or
not some amenities are shared or lacking).
- Is converted self contained flats, but does not meet as a
minimum standard the requirements of the 1991 Building Regulations,
and at least one third of flats are occupied under short
tenancies.
The building may be occupied by more than one household:
- As their only or main residence
- As a refuge of people escaping domestic violence
- By students during term time
- For other purposes prescribed by the Government
Persons do not form a single household unless they are members
of the same family or they form a prescribed relationship defined
by regulations. A household refers to:
- families, including single people, couples and same sex
couples
- other relationships, such as fostering, carers and domestic
staff
We ensure that these premises are fit for occupation and
suitable for the numbers of people intending to live in them.
We achieve this by:
- Responding to complaints
- Revisiting premises to ensure that work has been carried out
and standards are being maintained
- Viewing planning applications
For further information on multiple occupancy homes please
follow the links in the menu on the left or contact us using the
form below.