Commentary on Sections Part 1: Meaning of “House in Multiple Occupation” Section 4: Persons who are members of the same household
Section 4 specifies the meaning of “household” for the purposes of HMO licensing. This includes members of the same “family”: the definition of family includes married, unmarried and same-sex couples, and step children, as well as blood relatives. Additionally, a person who is a personal or domestic carer in a residential capacity is to be treated as a member of the household for the purposes of this Act.  There is a power for the Department to provide that other persons are treated as being in the same “household”.