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.

Excel document Register of licensed HMOs December 2022(XLSX) [17 kb]

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.

Additional information

You can download a copy of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council's 2022 HMO Standards which apply to all HMOs within the borough below.

PDF document HMO Standards(PDF) [719 kb]

For details of the legislation regarding the management of HMOs please read:

The Licensing and Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation and Other Houses (Miscellaneous Provisions)(England) Regulations 2006.

Below is a guide for current and prospective private residential landlords in England letting to tenants on an assured shorthold tenancy.

PDF document How to let(PDF) [756 kb]

Contact details


Housing Standards Team

If you have an enquiry about housing standards, send a message to the Housing Standards team

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