Houses in Multiple Occupancy Bill

Abstract

The Houses in Multiple Occupation Bill was introduced to the Assembly by the Minister for Social Development on 7 September 2015. The purpose of the Bill is to enable better regulation of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) by introducing a new licensing system. The Bill includes a streamlined definition of an HMO; contains new provisions around the standard of housing expected of HMOs; and clarifies the law in respect of other issues such as overcrowding in HMOs. This paper provides an overview of the clauses of the Bill; the policy context behind the new regulatory framework; and explores the regulation of HMOs in other jurisdictions.