HMO (house in multiple occupation)
aych-em-OH
Formal Neutral
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.
Chinese explanation
由三个及以上非同一家庭的人合租并共用设施的房屋——大多数学生合租房都是 HMO。较大的 HMO 必须获得地方政府许可，需满足防火门、烟雾报警器等安全标准。
Example conversation
A: Five of us want to rent this house.
B: Then it’s an HMO — check it has a licence and proper fire safety.
A：我们五个人想租这栋房子。
B：那它就是 HMO——确认它有许可证和合格的消防安全设施。
Official sources
Rules and amounts change — confirm important details with the official source.
Go deeper
All Renting & Housing
Reviewed by the UK Decoded editorial team
· Last checked 24 July 2026 · Report a mistake