When Do You Need an HMO Licence?

HMO stands for House in Multiple Occupation.

This essentially means that, while occupants in the household will have their own private rooms, they’ll share certain communal spaces. These might include kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms, hallways and stairwells.

Examples of HMOs include hotels, guesthouses, bed and breakfasts, and student accommodation.

When Do You Need an HMO Licence?

You need an HMO licence if you’re renting out any large property that can be classified as an HMO in England or Wales.

For your property to be an HMO, it must meet the following conditions:

• You rent the property to five or more people, and these people form more than one household.
• Some or all of the tenants share communal areas including bathroom and kitchen facilities.
• At least one tenant pays rent, or their employer pays their rent for them.

You need a separate HMO licence for each HMO you run that meets the above conditions. You also have a responsibility to renew your licence before it runs out.

Conditions of an HMO Licence

To qualify for an HMO licence, you must ensure that the house is suitable for the number of occupants in terms of both size and facilities. Whoever’s managing the house, whether that’s you or an agent, must also be considered “fit and proper” to do so. For instance, you must not have a criminal record, or a history of breaching landlord laws or codes of practices.

You’ll also have certain ongoing responsibilities. These include installing and maintaining smoke alarms, sending the council an updated gas safety certificate every year, and providing safety certificates for all electrical appliances whenever requested.

On top of these, your local council may set other conditions for your licence. For example, they may stipulate that you must improve the standards of your facilities before they grant you your licence. You can appeal if you don’t agree with these additional conditions.

What Happens If I Don’t Get an HMO Licence?

If you rent out an unlicensed HMO, you could face an unlimited fine. And if your case makes it to court, you may also face a prison sentence.

How to Get an HMO Licence

The government recommends that you apply for your HMO licence yourself. But if you use a managing agent, they can apply on your behalf.

You’ll be charged a fee for your application. This varies depending on your local council.

You can apply for an HMO licence online. Just enter your property’s postcode to get started.

The rules, the process for applying, and the penalties for non-compliance are slightly different in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Additional Support for Landlords

We have a few resources on our site that’ll help you ensure your HMO is up to scratch, whether you’re renting to students or others:

• What are my responsibilities as a student landlord or landlady?
• HMO requirements and regulations – a landlord’s guide.
• HMO space standards for bedrooms and communal areas.

A Lettings Agent Can Help

Work with us, and we’ll help you make sure that every room in your student property meets the regulations, so you’ll be qualified to get your HMO licence.

After this, we’ll conduct all viewings and screenings, helping you to fill your properties with student tenants you can depend on. And on an ongoing basis, we’ll take care of any maintenance issues you might have in your properties.

In short, we make life easy for landlords. Head here for more information on how we can help landlords in Nottingham.