This information is for people renting privately in Northern Ireland.
Shared housing means living in a property with other people and sharing some rooms, such as a kitchen and bathroom. It can be a cheaper option than renting a property by yourself.
There are some different rules and responsibilities for private renters in shared housing.
Living in a house in multiple occupation (HMO)
Houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) are a type of shared housing. They need to have a licence and meet certain standards, including having:
- proper fire safety equipment
- an electrical system that is tested every five years
- a heating system that tenants can control
What is a HMO?
A HMO is a property where three or more households live and at least one person pays rent to a landlord.
Your ‘household’ includes:
- your partner
- your relatives
- your partner’s relatives
A ‘relative’ means a:
- parent or grandparent
- child or grandchild
- brother or sister
- aunt or uncle
- nephew or niece
Your household also includes anyone living with you who is hired as domestic help or to care for someone in your household.
You’re living in a HMO if your home has all of the following:
- three or more people living in the property
- at least three separate households living in the property
- at least one person in the property pays rent
Check that your HMO:
- has a licence
- meets the standards for HMOs
- has a policy for antisocial behaviour
Contact Belfast City Council’s HMO Unit if:
- your landlord does not have a licence for the HMO
- you’re living in a HMO and think it might be unsafe
- your landlord is trying to unfairly evict you from a HMO
For example, Oliver and Sara are a couple and live with their friend, Patrick. Oliver and Sara count as one household, Patrick counts as another household. Because there are only two households, their property is not a HMO.
Claire, Orla and Naomi are friends sharing a three-bedroom house. They're not related so they each count as a separate household. There are three households so their property is a HMO.
Problems in your shared home
Safety standards and inspections
Since more than one household share a HMO, there’s a higher risk of safety issues and other problems. There might be more noise or rubbish and it’s harder to evacuate in case of fire. There are extra safety standards that HMOs need to meet and measures to prevent overcrowding.
Shared housing that is not a HMO must follow basic fitness standards.
The standards for HMOs include:
Lighting
Ventilation
Heating and plumbing
Electrical safety
Bathing and toilet facilities
Preparing and storing food
Dealing with rubbish
Fire safety equipment
Decoration
HMO managers must ensure the inside of the property is clean and sound, including:
- paintwork
- staircases and handrails
- flooring, ceilings skirting boards
Problems with rent and deposits in shared housing
Check your tenancy agreement for a term that says you’re ‘jointly and severally liable’ for rent. It means that your landlord can hold you responsible if another tenant does not pay rent or for damage they caused.
Your landlord may keep your deposit or hold your guarantor responsible if another tenant causes damage or does not pay rent.
Problems with your housemates
It can be difficult and awkward if you have problems with the other tenants in your home. Before contacting your local council, you can:
- start by talking to your housemates and try to work things out with them, you can try setting up agreements for sharing household chores
- talk to your landlord they may be able to work things out between you
- contact our Housing Mediation Service for help working things out
Even if things are tough in your home, it is risky to leave before your tenancy agreement ends. Speak to our advisers before you leave.
Before you move in, it can be helpful to talk through things with your housemates. Talk about how you expect to live and ground rules you’d like to have in your home. You can also set up an agreement for how you’ll pay bills and split up chores.
Antisocial behaviour
HMOs need to have a plan for antisocial behaviour. If you are experiencing antisocial behaviour in a HMO, start by contacting the HMO manager. They must record your complaints and address the issue with the person causing the problem.
If they cannot solve the problem informally, they can take formal action such as contacting the police or evicting the person causing problems.
Complaining to the HMO Unit
You can complain directly to Belfast City Council’s HMO Unit for problems with safety, antisocial behaviour, or overcrowding.
Safety problems in HMOs are called ‘hazards’. If the council investigates and finds a hazard, they will give your landlord a notice that says:
- what the problem is
- what the landlord needs to do to fix it
- the date they need to finish the repairs by
If your landlord does not do the repairs, the council can issue a fine.
The council can give the HMO manager an overcrowding notice if their HMO is overcrowded or likely to become overcrowded. For example, if someone has a baby, the HMO will be overcrowded when the baby turns one.
Even if the council finds a problem with your HMO or it does not have a licence, your landlord still needs to follow the correct process to evict you.