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  • Breadcrumb

    1. Home
    2. Property and housing
    3. Buying, selling and renting a home
    4. Private renting

    Living in shared accommodation

    If you live in private rented accommodation with friends or students, you might be living in a house in multiple occupation (HMO). Your landlord must have a licence to rent a HMO to tenants. You can check they have a HMO licence with the local council.

    Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)

    A house in multiple occupation is:

    • living accommodation
    • the main home for three or more people who aren't in the same family
    • rented by one or more of the people living there

    A landlord who owns a house in multiple occupation (HMO) must have a licence before they rent the property to tenants. You can check if a property is licensed as a HMO by contacting your local council.

    • Local councils in Northern Ireland

    Safety standards in HMOs

    HMOs have high safety standards as there can be increased risks in this type of housing. For example, people often lock their rooms in shared accommodation, so there may be an increased risk of fire.

    To make sure properties meet safety standards, landlords must license houses they rent to multiple tenants with the local council.

    • NI Houses in multiple occupation

    To check your home is licensed as a HMO, ask your local council:

    • Local councils in Northern Ireland

    Student accommodation

    Students can rent university-managed or registered accommodation. For more information about renting student accommodation, go to:

    • Student housing: finding somewhere to live

    Universities and colleges also have information about student accommodation:

    • Queen's University 
    • Ulster University
    • Stranmillis University College 
    • St Mary's University College

    Housing information in other languages

    To read housing rights information in other languages go to: 

    • Housing Advice NI

    You can learn more about renting privately, homelessness, sharing a home, paying for your accommodation and other issues that affect migrant workers.

    More useful links

    • Student housing
    • Student life

    More useful links

    • Student housing
    • Home and housing options
    • Safety at Home
    • Fire Prevention
    • Tax on property and rental income - HMRC website
    • Planning for buying a home - Money Advice Service website
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    Private renting

    • Different types of rented accommodation
    • Getting help with problems in private rented housing
    • Health and safety in rented accommodation
    • Housing standards in rented accommodation
    • Landlord Registration Scheme
    • Landlords with tenants claiming Universal Credit
    • Living in shared accommodation
    • Private rent and tenancies
    • Problems with your landlord - how the council can help
    • Rent control
    • Renting a home privately
    • Repairing your home: private tenants
    • Set up direct payment for tenant's housing costs to landlords
    • Tenancy Deposit Scheme

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