Section 254: Meaning of "house in multiple occupation", Housing Act 2004

For the purposes of this Act a building or a part of a building is a "house in multiple occupation" if—

it meets the conditions in subsection (2) ("the standard test");

it meets the conditions in subsection (3) ("the self-contained flat test");

it meets the conditions in subsection (4) ("the converted building test");

an HMO declaration is in force in respect of it under section 255; or

it is a converted block of flats to which section 257 applies.

A building or a part of a building meets the standard test if—

it consists of one or more units of living accommodation not consisting of a self-contained flat or flats;

the living accommodation is occupied by persons who do not form a single household (see section 258);

the living accommodation is occupied by those persons as their only or main residence or they are to be treated as so occupying it (see section 259);

their occupation of the living accommodation constitutes the only use of that accommodation;

rents are payable or other consideration is to be provided in respect of at least one of those persons' occupation of the living accommodation; and

two or more of the households who occupy the living accommodation share one or more basic amenities or the living accommodation is lacking in one or more basic amenities.

A part of a building meets the self-contained flat test if—

it consists of a self-contained flat; and

paragraphs (b) to (f) of subsection (2) apply (reading references to the living accommodation concerned as references to the flat).

A building or a part of a building meets the converted building test if—

it is a converted building;

it contains one or more units of living accommodation that do not consist of a self-contained flat or flats (whether or not it also contains any such flat or flats);

the living accommodation is occupied by persons who do not form a single household (see section 258);

the living accommodation is occupied by those persons as their only or main residence or they are to be treated as so occupying it (see section 259);

their occupation of the living accommodation constitutes the only use of that accommodation; and

rents are payable or other consideration is to be provided in respect of at least one of those persons' occupation of the living accommodation.

But for any purposes of this Act (other than those of Part 1) a building or part of a building within subsection (1) is not a house in multiple occupation if it is listed in Schedule 14.

The appropriate national authority may by regulations—

make such amendments of this section and sections 255 to 259 as the authority considers appropriate with a view to securing that any building or part of a building of a description specified in the regulations is or is not to be a house in multiple occupation for any specified purposes of this Act;

provide for such amendments to have effect also for the purposes of definitions in other enactments that operate by reference to this Act;

make such consequential amendments of any provision of this Act, or any other enactment, as the authority considers appropriate.

Regulations under subsection (6) may frame any description by reference to any matters or circumstances whatever.

In this section—

"basic amenities" means—
"converted building" means a building or part of a building consisting of living accommodation in which one or more units of such accommodation have been created since the building or part was constructed;
"enactment" includes an enactment comprised in subordinate legislation (within the meaning of the Interpretation Act 1978 (c. 30);
"self-contained flat" means a separate set of premises (whether or not on the same floor)—

Section 254: Meaning of "house in multiple occupation"

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