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Date: 26 January 2026
Belfast City Council is urging students and other prospective tenants to check that their next shared rental is licensed as a house of multiple occupancy (HMO).
Under current regulations, all HMOs across Northern Ireland must be licensed by their local council to make sure they are safe, good quality and well managed.
Belfast City Council manages the service for all 11 local councils, and is also responsible for licensing HMO properties within the Belfast area.
The council has produced an online guide – ‘Know Your Rights – A Guide for HMO Tenants’ – to help people across Northern Ireland understand their rights when renting an HMO - defined as living accommodation which is the main residence for three or more people from more than two different households, where at least one person pays the rent.
The free resource is available from the council’s website at belfastcity.gov.uk/HMOtenants
“If you’re a student checking out options for next term, make sure you take a look through this guide first, so you’re clear on your rights, as well as your landlord’s responsibilities when it comes to shared housing,” explained Councillor Arder Carson, Deputy Chair of the council’s Licensing Committee.
“Since 2019, all landlords who operate an HMO must have a licence to continue renting it to multiple tenants (unless a temporary exemption notice is in effect) - and they need one for each individual HMO they own.
“A HMO licence provides peace of mind – you know that your rental choice has been assessed as safe and of a good living standard, and it has the right facilities for the number of people living within it.
“It also provides you with reassurance that your landlord is operating within the law and has set out clearly how they will manage any issues which may arise during your tenancy, including vital aspects like deposits and notice periods to end your lease.”
To check if an HMO property is licensed, head to belfastcity.gov.uk/checkHMOlicence and enter the address in the HMO licence register.
The ‘Know Your Rights – A Guide for HMO Tenants’ guide covers all aspects of renting an HMO, from the pre-tenancy checks people should carry out before signing a contract and their own responsibilities when renting, to advice and guidance on keeping safe at home and dealing with potential issues like harassment and unlawful eviction.
It also contains key points to remember, such as making sure a deposit is no more than one month’s rent and checking it has been protected through an approved scheme within 28 days (with a written receipt received within 35 days).
“This is a really helpful resource which has already proved very popular since it was launched last autumn,” said Councillor Carson.
“Anyone who is thinking of renting an HMO, or who already is an HMO tenant, should check it out and keep it handy throughout their tenancy if they need advice or guidance on any aspect of their rental.
“Our HMO team are also available to help with any questions – call them on 028 9027 0414 or email [email protected]”