The Housing Act 2004 introduced a national scheme
to licence larger Houses in Multiple Occupation
(HMOs). The licence scheme aims to improve
health and safety for tenants and ensure high tenancy
management standards.
A House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) is a
building occupied by more than one household and includes houses
containing bedsits, hostels and shared houses. In general,
HMOs on three or more storeys, which have 5 or more tenants who
make up more than one household will require a licence. A household
is classed as tenants who are part of the same family, this
includes unmarried or same-sex couples. A group of friends sharing
a house will not count as a single household.
A licence lasts for 5 years and can
cost between £360 and £550 depending on the type of
property.
Do I need a licence?
How do I apply for a licence?
The Council's environmental health
officers will inspect all licensed HMOs and will also
investigate any complaint about an HMO, including those that
do not need to be licensed. If conditions in the
property are not up to standard, the landlord or owner will
be required to improve them.
The register of Houses in Multiple Occupation is available to
view by appointment. Contact the Environment Service to
arrange this.