HMO licensing in Belfast

HMO licence required: 3 or more people from more than 2 households (Houses in Multiple Occupation Act (NI) 2016). Licences are issued by councils, led by Belfast City Council for the NI HMO service.

Northern Ireland: single mandatory scheme run by NI HMO Unit (Belfast City Council)

Planning policy on HMOs

Belfast LDP Plan Strategy 2035 Policy HOU10: within designated Housing Management Areas permission only where HMOs and flats/apartments combined would not exceed 20% of all dwelling units in the HMA; outside HMAs, HMOs must not exceed 10% of dwelling units on the road or street (300m either side where the street exceeds 600m). Until the Local Policies Plan designates HMAs, the policy is applied to the HMO policy areas under designation HMO2 of the HMO Subject Plan for Belfast City Council Area 2015.