Environmental Health

NI Houses in Multiple Occupation

From Monday 1 April 2019, licensing laws for shared flats and houses changed.

The Houses in Multiple Occupation Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 is in to operation and local councils across NI have responsibility for regulating houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) from the NI Housing Executive.

Belfast City Council's Northern Ireland Houses in Multiple Occupation team will manage the delivery of the NI HMO scheme on behalf of all local councils.

Moving forward, all HMOs must be licensed by their local council and all HMO owners must comply with the Houses in Multiple Occupation Act (Northern Ireland) 2016.

You can apply online via the Belfast City Council website or in person at your local council office.

You must provide all the relevant documentation downloadable from the Belfast City Council website and the appropriate fee (details also available on the Belfast City Council website).