What is a HMO?

The council's aim is to ensure that all properties which are Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs) are safe for the number of occupiers.

A house of multiple occupancy (HMO) can be any building or part of a building used for living accommodation by more than two people who are not part of the same family, where they occupy the property as their only or main residence, where they share one or more basic amenities and they pay rent for their accommodation. The full definition of a HMO is contained in section 254-260 of the Housing Act 2004.

In general terms, a house of multiple occupancy (HMO) can be any one of the following:

A shared house lived in by people who belong to more than one family sharing one or more basic amenities, such as a toilet, personal washing facilities and cooking facilities.
A house in bedsits lived in by people who belong to more than one family sharing one or more basic amenities.
An individual flat lived in by people who belong to more than one family sharing one or more basic amenities.

To be of the same family, the occupants must be married to each other, live together as a husband and wife, live together in a same sex relationship, or be related to each other, such as a parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece or cousin.

Where are the HMOs in Basingstoke and Deane?

You can find a list of HMOs below.

Do you need planning permission?

All new Houses of Multiple Occupancy will be subject to planning control in some areas of the borough. For more information please visit the planning page relating to Please visit our Article 4 Direction webpage for more information.