An HMO (house in multiple occupancy) is a property that is shared by three or more tenants who aren’t members of the same family. HMO landlords must have a licence from the council for every HMO. This ensures that the property is managed properly and meets certain safety standards.
Before the council gives a landlord an HMO licence, it will carry out the following checks:
- Is the landlord is a fit and proper person to hold a licence?
- Is the property managed properly?
- Does the property meet the required standards?
It is a criminal offence for a landlord to operate an HMO without a licence, and they could face a fine of up to £50,000.
We are often asked for guidance on HMO legislation and whether or not a potential purchase will meet with current regulation and what upgrades may be required. Whilst we can provide general answers we would recomend that an HMO specialist is engaged and recommend
HMO Scotland to provide pre-purchase surveys, upgrades and licence applications.
HMO Scotland will be happy to assist and can be contacted on 0131 524 0290.
