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14/7/25 8:13 pm
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Landlords in Northern Ireland will soon have to pay more for an HMO licence as part of a crackdown on the sector.
Communities minister Gordon Lyons believes the system isn’t working and will write to councils in the country, telling them to address HMO spread, property standards and the impact they have on local communities.
During a debate at the Assembly, Lyons told members that when considering an application for a new HMO, councils must factor in the number of HMOs already in the area. Councils should also have their own policies on HMO provision and set restrictions on numbers or percentages of HMOs in certain areas. The price of a licence will increase, although he didn’t give details.
Under the Houses in Multiple Occupation Act (Northern Ireland) 2016, councils have powers to issue fixed penalties of up to £5,000 and fines of up to £20,000.
Lyons said he was aware of reports about overcrowding and the operation of unlicensed HMOs. However, between April 2019 and early September 2025, there were only 77 fixed penalty notices issued, two successful prosecutions for the operation of unlicensed HMOs and one successful prosecution for exceeding the licensed occupancy.
Lyons added: “Additional work comes with the administration of HMOs, and it is right that those who benefit from it pay a contribution towards it.”
He added that rather than look at any legislative change, he wanted to use councils’ available powers. “My understanding and feeling from talking to elected representatives and others on the ground is that they feel that councils are not taking the appropriate action to deal with the problems that many people face.”
Lyons also announced that landlords will soon have to check would-be tenants’ identity. He promised to write to the Home Office and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, requesting that they extend the Right to Rent scheme to Northern Ireland.
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