Students Reminded To Ensure HMO Status Of Their Rental Home

As university students begin to return to Belfast ahead of the new term starting, tenants of shared houses have been urged to make sure their houses are licensed as a House of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs).

Belfast City Council is also encouraging those already occupying an HMO to get in touch if they have any concerns about their accommodation.

Under current regulations, all HMOs in the Belfast area must be licensed by the council to help make sure they are safe, good quality and well managed.

An HMO is defined as living accommodation which is the main residence for three or more people from more than two different households, where at least one person pays the rent.

Since 2019, all landlords who operate an HMO must have a licence from their local council to continue renting it to multiple tenants – unless a temporary exemption notice is in effect.

Landlords must also have a valid licence for each individual HMO they own.

The guidance comes after the council's Licensing Committee revoked an HMO licence for a seven-bedroom property in the wider university area.

The property owner had already incurred £5,000 in fixed penalty notices and council officers acted in March 2024 after receiving a complaint from tenants of alleged "harassment and unfair rule imposition".

Following an inspection, staff found a number of serious breaches of HMO licence conditions and engaged with the PSNI after they became concerned for the welfare of the property's occupants. The breaches included heating not being available at all times or being within the control of the tenants, the landlord entering the property without giving proper notice and the alleged use of a recording device in a kitchen. After receiving a report from officers, which included information from the PSNI, Queen's University's neighbourhood engagement team and the HMO owner, the committee unanimously agreed to revoke the HMO licence, on the basis that the owner was not a fit and proper person, they had committed a serious breach of a condition of the HMO licence and there had been more than one breach of the licence.

"As councillors, we were very concerned to hear about this case and how these tenants had been treated," said Councillor Jim Rodgers, Chair of the Licensing Committee.

"The behaviour of this owner was completely unacceptable and we hope the revocation of this licence will act as a warning to all owners and landlords of HMOs that they have responsibilities to their tenants, as well as other legal obligations that they must comply with at all times.

"As a council, it's important we proactively highlight this case to show that any concerns are taken seriously and will be investigated robustly by our HMO team.

"Any HMO tenant who is concerned about their accommodation can get in touch by emailing NIHMO@belfastcity.gov.uk or calling 028 9027 0414."

Councillor Rodgers also highlighted the importance of ensuring shared properties are licensed – something that can be easily checked online for free, via the HMO licence register, at belfastcity.gov.uk/NIMHO

"Having a valid HMO licence means that the property you're renting has been assessed by the council, with suitable facilities for the number of people living within it," he explained.

"The licensing process ensures that properties in this category are safe, secure and comfortable, meet certain criteria and that landlords fulfil their obligations to their tenants.

"It also means that issues can be reported, if they don't."

For more information about HMO licences and to check the NIHMO register, visit belfastcity.gov.uk/NIMHO