Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)

What is an HMO?

A home is called a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) if:

• 3 or more people live there
• They are from different households
• They share a kitchen, bathroom, or toilet

This includes:

• Shared houses or flats
• Bedsits with shared bathrooms
• Bed and breakfast homes for people with no other home
• Some flats that weren’t built to proper safety standards

Do I need a licence?

Yes — if you want to rent out an HMO, you must apply for a licence before you start.

• You can’t transfer an old licence
• You can apply online using the HMO Licence Form

👉 If you don’t get a licence or let too many people live there, you could be fined up to £20,000
👉 Breaking licence rules can lead to fines of up to £5,000

Safety checks

We will:

• Visit the property within 28 days of your application
• Check if it meets local and national safety standards
• Tell you what needs fixing
• You must do the work or we may take legal action

Index of licences

• Index of Licences 2023 Online Register of HMO's Current.pdf (tendringdc.gov.uk)

HMO rules for Landlords

If your HMO has 5 or more people from 2 or more households, and they share things like kitchens or bathrooms, you must:

• Give your contact details to tenants
• Keep fire exits clear and alarms working
• Make sure the home is safe to live in
• Provide gas, electricity, water, and drainage
• Check gas safety every year and electricity every 5 years
• Keep the home and garden in good condition
• Provide bins and rubbish collection

👉 Read the full regulations here

Need help?

Contact the Private Sector Housing Team:

• 📧 Email: PSHousing@tendringdc.gov.uk
• 📍 Address: 88–90 Pier Avenue, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, CO15 1NJ
• 📞 Phone: 01255 686617

Useful reading

• HMO Policy 2024 Final TDC HMO Policy - 2024 (tendringdc.gov.uk)