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• What is an HMO?

Multiple occupancy homes

Sharing a House - What You Need To Know

Sharing rented accommodation with friends or fellow students and workers is a good way to keep your rent and other bills down.

Houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) need high safety standards as there are greater risks involved. For example, people frequently lock the doors of their rooms in shared accommodation, so there is an increased risk in case of a fire.

Finding registered accommodation

The Housing Executive recommends that students and their parents should try to find registered accommodation as a first preference. You can find help and advice on the studentpad website.

In order to make sure that safety standards are adhered to, the Housing Executive asks landlords to register properties which are being rented out to multiple occupants. Not all HMOs need to be registered. To find out whether your property needs to be registered, please read the Housing Executive’s definition of relevant HMOs.

In some places where there are a lot of HMOs, particularly near the universities, the Housing Executive has identified “Action Areas”. If your HMO is in that area, then it must be registered. If you live in a house with multiple occupants, find out more about what the certificate should cover.

If you are a landlord who rents your HMO to tenants, find out what you need to do to get certification and what your landlord responsibilities are. Check the Housing Executive's website for information on making sure your HMO property is safe .

Tenants should consult the Housing Executive's list of registered HMOs.