The Small Print: Key Differences Between an HMO Tenancy and a Standard Flatshare When you rent a room in an HMO, your contract might look a bit different from a standard “Joint and Several” tenancy you’d find in a small flatshare. Understanding these nuances can save you a lot of stress later on. Individual vs. Joint Tenancies In many HMOs, tenants have individual tenancies. This is great because you are only responsible for your own rent. If your housemate moves out or stops paying, the landlord cannot come to you for the missing money. In a standard flatshare, you are often “jointly and severally liable,” meaning everyone is responsible for the total rent. Access Rights In a standard house rental, the landlord usually needs to give 24 hours’ notice to enter the property. In an HMO where you rent an individual room, the landlord can usually enter the communal areas (kitchen, hallways, lounge) without notice to perform inspections or cleaning. However, they must still give you notice before entering your private bedroom. Council Tax and Bills In many professional HMOs, the rent is “bills inclusive.” Legally, if you rent an individual room in an HMO, the landlord is usually the one responsible for paying the Council Tax to the local authority, though they will factor this into your monthly rent.