HMO (house in multiple occupation)
What it really means
A property rented by three or more people from different households who share facilities — most student houses are HMOs. Larger HMOs must be licensed by the council, which sets safety standards like fire doors and smoke alarms.
Context, tips & common mistakes
A house in multiple occupation — broadly, unrelated people sharing facilities — puts extra legal duties on the landlord, and larger HMOs need a council licence with standards on fire doors, smoke alarms, room sizes and management. Most councils publish their HMO licence register online, so you can check a shared house before moving in.
Living in a licensable HMO that was never licensed is a landlord problem, not a tenant one: tenants keep their rights, and in England can even apply for a rent repayment order in some cases. If a shared house feels unsafe — no fire doors, broken alarms, locks requiring keys to exit — report it to the council's housing team; that is exactly what they exist for.