Households in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)
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A House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) is a residential property occupied by a group of unrelated persons such as students, key workers and young professionals who share communal facilities such as a kitchen, living room or bathroom/toilet.
The Use Classes Order establishes two different types of HMO depending on the number of occupants:
A Class C4 HMO use is defined as housing where between 3 and 6 unrelated people reside and share amenities
A larger HMO with 7 or more people sharing is unclassified as ‘Sui Generis’
With a city-wide Article 4 Direction being made effective in March 2012, planning permission is required to change the use from a C3 family dwelling to a C4 HMO (a change to a Sui Generis HMO needs planning permission in its own right). Permitted development rights remain to change an HMO to a C3 family dwelling without planning permission. Whilst both forms of HMOs have a different use class to a C3 family dwelling, both types of HMO properties are still a form of dwelling house which can be capable and suitable for use as a family dwelling in the future.
HMOs provide an important contribution to the mix of housing within the City. In particular, they provide affordable accommodation to those who cannot afford to buy or rent a home of their own as well as providing the option to share certain household running costs, such as utility bills, between tenants thereby reducing an individual tenant’s living costs. Consequently, having access to this type of accommodation can help attract workers to the city who need a more affordable option whilst also continuing to support existing workers who want to continue living in the city. HMOs also provide opportunities for people to live together who are not co-habiting couples and who otherwise may not wish to live alone thereby reducing potential instances of social isolation and the negative effects this can have on mental health and wellbeing.