Housing in Multiple Occupancy (HMO)

What is a HMO?

A House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) is a residential property occupied by three or more persons forming two or more households who share basic amenities such as a kitchen, bathroom or toilet, as defined by the Housing Act 2004.

Information for tenants

The council is responsible for enforcing HMO standards, so if you are a tenant living in a HMO and feel there are any unreasonable hazards and your HMO is not being managed properly  please report it.

You can contact Gloucester City Council on 01452 396 396 or email heretohelp@gloucester.gov.uk

We have produced a HMO guide for tenants so that you are aware of some of the standards and conditions landlords must meet with regards to HMO properties.

Download the Houses in Multiple Occupation - A Guide for Landlords, Managers and Tenants

Information for landlords

HMO standards

If you rent rooms in a house of multiple occupancy the property must meet the required standards for tenants, with regards to health, safety and welfare.

Find out more about these standards on the Gov.uk website.

HMO licensing - THE LAW HAS CHANGED

If you own or manage a house in multiple occupation (HMO) you may need a licence for the property. It is a criminal offence to operate a licensable HMO without a licence. Landlords who are caught can be heavily fined by the courts.

All HMOs with five or more occupants are subject to mandatory HMO licensing. Your property qualifies as a mandatory HMO if:

• At least five occupants live there, forming more than one household
• The occupants share a toilet, bathroom, or kitchen facilities

The council must maintain a public register of all the premises licensed as a house in multiple occupation. A basic copy of the register is available to download below.

HMO Licensed Property Register

If you have any enquiries about a property which has been licensed or which you feel should be licensed and is not, please contact us.

If your HMO property has 5 persons or more who form more than one household and share facilities it must now be licensed.

HMO Licensing Fees

Following the introduction of the Housing and Planning Act 2016, Gloucester City Council has recently reviewed its application processes and fees.

The HMO licensing fees effective from 1 April 2026, will be charged as follows:

HMO Licence application form 2025-26

A Guidance Note to assist in the completion of the application