Applying for an HMO licence

This page will help you to apply for an HMO licence.

Please see our requirement to license page to confirm whether the property is a licensable HMO.

You, or your manager, need to apply for a licence when:

• the HMO becomes licensable or
• you buy a licensable HMO which has no licence or
• you buy a licensed HMO and the licence holder needs to change or
• the previous licence expires or is revoked

The licence fee varies between £410 and £800. You can save £260 or more by applying promptly. There are also discounts for being an accredited landlord or for passing the landlord proficiency test.

The fee and documents needed will depend upon whether you are applying for an initial licence or for renewal of a licence (re-licensing).

Applying for an initial licence

This applies when:

• The property is a licensable HMO where no licence has been previously approved or
• The licence holder for a previously licensed HMO needs to change, this often happens because the HMO has changed ownership

For more information, including application details, please see our applying for an initial HMO licence page.

Applying for renewal of licence (re-licencing)

This applies when:

• the property is a licensable HMO and
• the licence is about to expire, or has recently expired and
• the proposed licence holder is the person named in the licence which is due to expire, or has recently expired

All three bullet points must apply, otherwise please go to the applying for an initial HMO licence page.

We will write to you two months before the licence is due to expire. The letter will advise you how to complete a new application. You can then make sure that the certificates are in date and that the property complies with the conditions, current licensing standards and the management regulations.

For more information, including application details, please see our re-licensing of a licensable HMO page.

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