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Annual report 2006/2007 Houses in multiple occupation
Home > Services > Housing > Multiple Occupancy Homes
A House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) is a house or a flat where three or more unrelated tenants live and share facilities such as a toilet, washing facilities or cooking facilities.
It can include a house, bedsit, lodgings, student accommodation, hostel or a shared flat. HMOs have to be licensed unless they qualify for exemption.
It can include a house, bedsit, lodgings, student accommodation, hostel or a shared flat. HMOs have to be licensed unless they qualify for exemption.
Tenants and HMOs
Do you live in a HMO? If you do and it's not licensed, the property may not meet our licensing scheme standards and you may be at risk from the following:
- poor fire-safety measures
- gas and electrical safety
- unsuitable facilities
- poor standard or repair
- overcrowding
- poor tenancy management issues
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Landlords and HMOs
Do you own a property which needs a licence? Landlords who continue to run HMOs without a licence are committing an offence. They can be prosecuted and have to pay a fine of up to £5,000. Is your property up to our standard?
- have you upgraded the fire escape routes?
- have you dealt with gas and electrical safety issues?
- is your property clean and well-maintained?
- do you meet your responsibilities in relation to the common areas of the property?
- do you have an approved tenancy agreement?
Neighbours and HMOs
Are there HMOs in your neighbourhood? If someone has applied for a licence, a public notice must be displayed for 21 days from the date of the application where it can be easily read at or near the property. You are entitled to object to an application, giving your reasons.
If you believe that there are unlicensed HMOs in your neighbourhood or you are experiencing nuisance conditions arising from HMOs, please download a copy of our licensing scheme for HMOs.
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New planning policy
After extensive public consultation exercise, the Council approved a new Planning policy on Houses in Multiple Occupation in November 2007. This policy will be used to assess planning applications for Houses in Multiple Occupation.
For further information you can download the supplementary guidance below, or visit our page on the Renfrewshire local plan supplementary guidance.
Contact information
- email: e-prot.es@renfrewshire.gov.uk
- phone: 0141 840 3125
- fax: 0141 842 5457
- call or write to us at:
- Renfrewshire Council
Environmental Protection
Environmental Services
Renfrewshire House
Cotton Street
Paisley
PA1 1EF
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