Houses in multiple occupation (HMO)

Statistics show that people who live in houses in multiple occupation are more at risk from fires, and other health and safety hazards.

We are keen to work with owners and landlords to reduce these risks as much as possible.

What is a house in multiple occupation?

• A whole house or flat which is let to three or more tenants, who form two or more households and who share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet
• A house which has been converted into bedsits (or other accommodation that is not self-contained) and which is let to three or more tenants who form two or more households and who share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet
• A converted house which contains one or more flats which are not self-contained, and which is occupied by three or more tenants who form two or more households
• A building which is converted completely into self-contained flats, if the conversion did not meet the standards of the 1991 Building Regulations, and more than one-third of the flats are let on short-term tenancies.

The property must be the tenants' only or main residence and it should be used solely or mainly to house tenants. Properties let to students and migrant workers will be counted as their only or main residence, as will properties which are used as domestic refuges.

Licensing of house's in multiple occupation

It is a statutory requirement for us to operate a licensing scheme for HMOs with five or more people, from two or more households - as of October 2018.

The licensing process involves a housing health and safety (HHSRS) risk assessment inspection, and the gathering and recording of information about the building and its management:

• Guidance on standards for HMO (pdf 211 kb)

To apply for a HMO licence, please download the application form below and return it to Environmental Health, Public Service Plaza, Civic Centre Road, Havant, PO9 2AX or email it to ehealth@havant.gov.uk.

• HMO Licence application form - Section A and B (pdf 146 kb)
• HMO Licence application form - Section C (pdf 237 kb)
• HMO Licence application form - Guidance notes (pdf 126 kb)
• HMO Licence application form - Privacy notice (pdf 152 kb)

You are also required to pay a fee at the time of submitting your application. If you are sending an application form in by post, please ensure payment is included so we can process your application.

Alternatively you can apply online.

For non-licensable HMOs, we carry out a rolling programme of risk assessment inspections.