Applying for an HMO licence

You can apply for a new licence or renew your licence if you are already registered online by clicking on the following link.

Apply now

By holding a licence, you will need to comply with licensing conditions which will ensure the home you let out is properly managed and meets acceptable standards. 

Licence cost

The licensing fees will be taken in 2 stages.

• A £618 fee will be paid on application, and a further £742 fee will be taken before your licence is issued.
• The total fee for licensing an HMO is £1,360.
  

Your HMO licence application will be incomplete if you:

• don't pay the full licensing fee
• fail to supply all of the correct supporting documentation (gas certificate, electrical safety certificate, floor plan and energy performance certificate)

Incomplete applications will be refused and withdrawn. 

Any application that is refused by the council will not be refunded. Enforcement action will be considered for failing to operate a HMO without a licence. A new application will be required.

Further charges and discounts may apply to your application. For more details, visit our HMO licensing fees and periods page.

Licence period 

Licences will be granted for up to 5 years unless we have concerns about the management, use (including whether a property has the appropriate permissions), condition or occupation of the property. In these cases, we may grant a licence for a shorter period – you will have to apply and pay the fee again when it expires.

If we revoke a licence and the property continues to be rented out, you will have to apply and pay the fee again.

Renewing your licence

If you hold a mandatory licence you will need to renew your licence at the end of the licence period.

If you hold an additional HMO licence please check if you are required to renew your licence at the end of the licence period.

It is an offence to operate an HMO without the correct licence in place.

HMOs and planning permission

Planning permission may be required for your HMO. 

You may need to apply for planning permission if you intend to:

• build or convert a building into an HMO
• change a family house to an HMO

If the building or conversion work has already taken place, you may need to apply for retrospective planning permission.

You can find out more on the HMOs and planning permission page.

Non-UK applicants

We will only consider applications for a property licence from a non-UK resident if there is a managing agent based in the UK. The managing agent must agree to the conditions and obligations imposed in the licence conditions by signing a declaration.