Owner occupier
When the owner of a building also resides in it, they are referred to as the ‘owner occupier’.
An owner occupier may be the sole resident of a house. But if the property is part rented, the owner occupier will live alongside the tenant (who is an occupier) and will usually be paid rent by the tenant or tenants. In this case, the owner occupier is also the landlord and must assume the usual responsibilities and duties expected of a landlord, assuming that both are party to a rental contract (eg assured shorthold tenancy).
The same applies to flats: if the owner lives in the property, they are considered the owner occupier. It is immaterial whether the owner occupier has a mortgage and owes money on the property: they are still regarded as the property owner and therefore the owner occupier.
In theory, a company or corporation may also be an owner occupier. For example, in the case of an office building, the owner may use the entire building as offices. Or, they may occupy a section of the building and rent out the remaining floorspace to other companies (who are regarded as being tenants and occupiers). In both cases, the owner is also the owner occupier.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
Design and construction industry podcasts
Professional development, practice, the pandemic, platforms and podcasts. Have we missed anything?
C20 Society; Buildings at Risk List 2025
10 more buildings published with updates on the past decade of buildings featured.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme and certifications consultation
Summary of government consultation, closing 11 June 2025.
Deputy editor of AT, Tim Fraser, discusses the newly formed society with its current chair, Chris Halligan MCIAT.
Barratt Lo-E passivhaus standard homes planned enmasse
With an initial 728 Lo-E homes across two sites and many more planned for the future.
Government urged to uphold Warm Homes commitment
ECA and industry bodies write to Government concerning its 13.2 billion Warm Homes manifesto commitment.
From project managers to rising stars, sustainability pioneers and more.
Places of Worship in Britain and Ireland, 1929-1990. Book review.
The emancipation of women in art.
Call for independent National Grenfell oversight mechanism
MHCLG share findings of Building Safety Inquiry in letter to Secretary of State and Minister for Building Safety.
The Architectural Technology Awards
AT Awards now open for this the sixth decade of CIAT.
50th Golden anniversary ECA Edmundson awards
Deadline for submissions Friday 30 May 2025.
The benefits of precast, off-site foundation systems
Top ten benefits of this notable innovation.
Encouraging individuals to take action saving water at home, work, and in their communities.
Takes a community to support mental health and wellbeing
The why of becoming a Mental Health Instructor explained.
Mental health awareness week 13-18 May
The theme is communities, they can provide a sense of belonging, safety, support in hard times, and a sense purpose.
Mental health support on the rise but workers still struggling
CIOB Understanding Mental Health in the Built Environment 2025 shows.
Design and construction material libraries
Material, sample, product or detail libraries a key component of any architectural design practice.