HMO licensing — when your rental needs a licence.
Houses in Multiple Occupation are subject to a mandatory national licensing regime when there are 5+ unrelated occupants from 2+ households. Many councils run additional or selective schemes that lower that threshold. Operating without a licence is a criminal offence with rent-repayment-order liability up to 12 months.
When do I need an HMO licence?
You need a mandatory HMO licence when you rent to 5+ people from 2+ different households who share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet. Additional licensing schemes (operated by some councils) bring 3-or-4 person HMOs into scope; selective licensing (a few councils) brings every privately rented property into scope regardless of occupancy. Operating an unlicensed HMO is a criminal offence and exposes you to rent-repayment orders up to 12 months' rent.
Estimated total HMO stock — England + Wales + Scotland.
Per breach under the Housing and Planning Act 2016.
Statutory minimum for a single occupant aged 10+ under the 2018 Order.
HMO Licensing — the terms that matter
Plain-English definitions for the 6 terms you'll see in any quote, certificate or enforcement notice for HMO Licensing for Landlords.
- House in Multiple OccupationHMO
- A property occupied by more than one household sharing facilities. The legal definition under section 254 of the Housing Act 2004 captures most shared houses and bedsits.
- Mandatory HMO LicenceMandatory
- National scheme — required for every HMO with 5+ persons from 2+ households sharing facilities since the 2018 Order extended the regime.
- Additional LicensingAdditional
- Council-level scheme expanding mandatory licensing to smaller HMOs (often 3+ persons). Adopted ad hoc; check the council's licensing page.
- Selective LicensingSelective
- Council-level scheme requiring a licence for any privately rented property in a designated zone, regardless of size or occupancy. Used to tackle anti-social behaviour.
- Rent Repayment OrderRRO
- A First-tier Tribunal order requiring a landlord operating an unlicensed HMO to repay up to 12 months' rent to tenants or to the council that paid Housing Benefit / Universal Credit.
- Fit and Proper Person TestF&P
- Statutory test under section 66 of the Housing Act 2004 — landlord and managing agent must pass a criminal-record + landlord-history check before a licence is granted.
How to apply for an HMO licence
Five steps from instruction to certificate. Total time: 12w.
01
Confirm scheme
Day 0–3
Check council website for mandatory + additional + selective. The council's licensing page lists fees, room-size minimums and any local conditions.
02
Get the property up to spec
Day 7–28
Common requirements: minimum room sizes (4.64 m² single, 10.22 m² double), fire doors FD30 minimum, hard-wired interlinked smoke alarms, EICR within 5 years, gas safety record annual, fire-risk assessment, sufficient bathrooms and kitchen capacity.
03
Submit application
Day 28
Online submission to council with property plan, council-tax band, EICR, gas safety record, fire-risk assessment. Pay fee (£550–£1,500). Council may visit before deciding.
04
F&P test + decision
Day 28–84
Council runs the Fit and Proper Person test on you and any managing agent. Decision typically 8–12 weeks. May come with conditions you must satisfy within a deadline.
05
Display + comply ongoing
Year-round
Display licence in a prominent place. Provide written tenancy agreements, manage waste, prevent anti-social behaviour, comply with all conditions. Renewal at 5 years (mandatory).
HMO Licensing for Landlords. Done compliant.
Every TradeMatch-listed tradesperson covering HMO Licensing for Landlords carries the relevant scheme registration. Verified at onboarding, re-verified annually, certificates posted to you within 30 days of any notifiable work.
Mandatory vs Additional vs Selective HMO licensing
Side-by-side comparison of the compliant route versus the unregistered shortcut. Most rows trace a straight line from regulation to financial exposure.
| Scheme | Threshold | Geographic scope | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| COMPLIANT — RECOMMENDEDMandatory | 5+ persons from 2+ households sharing facilities | England & Wales nationwide | 5 years |
| Additional | Council-defined — typically 3+ persons / 2+ households | Council-designated boroughs / wards | Often 5 years |
| Selective | Any privately rented property regardless of occupancy | Council-designated zones (anti-ASB driven) | Often 5 years |
| Scotland (HMO licence) | 3+ unrelated persons sharing | Scotland-wide | 3 years |
Source: Housing Act 2004, 2018 Order, Welsh Government Rent Smart Wales, Scottish Government HMO Information.
The questions homeowners ask before they commit.
How much is an HMO licence?
Mandatory HMO licence application fees range £550–£1,500 depending on council. London boroughs typically £1,000–£1,500; other English councils £550–£900. The fee covers the 5-year licence period — renewal at year 5 is similar. Additional licensing schemes set their own fees, often discounted on first issue.
What's the minimum bedroom size in an HMO?
The Licensing of HMOs (Mandatory Conditions) (England) Regulations 2018 set: 4.64 m² for one occupant aged 10+, 10.22 m² for two occupants aged 10+, 6.51 m² for one occupant aged under 10. Rooms below 4.64 m² cannot be used for sleeping. Council additional schemes can set tighter minimums.
Do I need an HMO licence for a 4-person house share?
Under mandatory national rules, no — mandatory kicks in at 5+. But many councils run additional schemes that capture 3-person and 4-person HMOs (typically in inner-London boroughs and university cities). Always check the council's licensing page; operating an unlicensed HMO under additional licensing is the same criminal offence as mandatory.
What happens if I rent an unlicensed HMO?
Criminal offence under section 72 of the Housing Act 2004 — civil penalty up to £30,000 per breach, or unlimited fine on conviction. Tenants can apply for a Rent Repayment Order to recover up to 12 months' rent. The local council can recover Housing Benefit / Universal Credit paid during the unlicensed period.
How long does an HMO licence last?
Mandatory licences run 5 years. Additional and selective licences vary by council — most are also 5 years. Scotland's HMO licence runs 3 years. You must renew before expiry; operating after expiry is the same offence as never licensing.
Does an HMO licence pass to a new owner at sale?
No — the licence is personal to the licence holder, not the property. The buyer must apply for a new licence in their own name; most councils issue an interim licence on completion if the buyer is fit-and-proper. Early engagement with the council's licensing team is essential to avoid an unlicensed gap.
Going deeper.
HMO compliance, end-to-end.
TradeMatch electricians, gas engineers and surveyors deliver every check your HMO licence requires — EICR, CP12, fire-risk assessment, room-size verification.