Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO)

If you rent out a property for house in multiple occupancy (HMO), you may require a licence from your local authority.

An House in Multiple Occupation is a building that is occupied, as a main residence, by more than one household. HMOs include:

Buildings that consist of bedsit rooms where at least some facilities are shared
Buildings converted into self-contained flats that don’t comply with the Building Regulations 1991 AND where less than two thirds of the flats are owner-occupied
Buildings with multiple units of accommodation that all have their own exclusive facilities but which are not self-contained
Buildings which contain a mixture of the above types of accommodation
Hostels
Shared houses

The definition of household relates to any members of a family, including aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, grandparents etc and partners living together.

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Eligibility Criteria

Applications must be made to the local housing authority.
A fee maybe charged.
You must be a fit and proper person to hold the licence.

The Housing Act 2004 requires Local authorities to licence prescribed HMOs.

An HMO only requires a licence if:

It comprises of 3 or more storey’s, and
It is occupied by 5 or more persons, living in 2 or more households.

The Act makes it an offence to have control of or manage an HMO which requires a licence but is not licensed. It is also an offence if a licence holder fails to comply with the conditions of a licence.

The legislation covering licensing can be found in Part 2 of the Housing Act 2004, and in associated orders and regulations.

You can find information sheets in the attached files section below.

Non Licensable HMOs

HMOs which do not require a license are assessed under Part 1 of the Housing Act 2004 using the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS).

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Application Evaluation Process

Licences will be granted if:

the house is or can be made suitable for multiple occupation
the applicant is a fit and proper person and the most appropriate person to hold the licence
the proposed manager has control of the house, and is a fit and proper person to be the manager the management arrangements are satisfactory
The HMO team will carry out Inspections of all hostels and B& B accommodation

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Will Tacit Consent Apply?

No. It is in the public interest that the authority must process your application before it can be granted. If you have not heard from us within a reasonable period, please contact us.

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How to Apply?

You can download the application from the attached files section below.

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Failed Application Redress

Please contact us in the first instance.

You may appeal to a Residential Property Tribunal.

Any appeal must be made within 28 days of the decision being made.

Licence Holder Redress

Please contact your Local Authority in the first instance.

You may appeal to a residential property tribunal regarding conditions attached to a licence or any decision to vary or revoke a licence.

Any appeal must be made within 28 days of the decision being made.

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Contact us

You can use our online form to report a problem with a HMO.

HMO Licensing Team
Environmental Health and Housing
Strategic and Community Housing Service
639 High Road
London
N17 8BD

Tel 020 8489 1000
Fax 020 8489 5113

You can visit in person during office hours: Monday to Friday 8.45am to 5.00pm

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Attached Files
Filename	Filetype	Size
HMO Licensing - Application Form.pdf	PDF	208K
HMO Licensing - Application Form Guidance Notes.pdf	PDF	64K
HMO Licensing - Standards for Licensable HMO's.pdf	PDF	69K
HMO Licensing - Statutory Notification of Application for Licence.pdf	PDF	31K
HMO Licensing - Space Standards for Non-Licensable HMO's.pdf	PDF	36K
HMO Licensing - General Information.pdf	PDF	45K
HMO Licensing - Licence onditions information.10 08.pdf	PDF	47K
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