A house in multiple occupation (HMO) is a house or flat occupied by three or more people, who form two or more households and share amenities (such as bathrooms or kitchens). Some buildings converted into self-contained flats can also be HMOs if they do not meet certain building regulations and more than a third of the flats are rented out.
Some HMOs with five or more occupants require a licence, most HMOs are subject to management regulations and in some parts of Reading permitted development rights for the creation of small HMOs have been removed by Article 4 Directions. For more information on Article 4 Directions use the link below or contact the council’s Planning Department.