Landlord licences

Private landlords are responsible for ensuring they have appropriate licences for their properties if applicable. 

Currently only landlords who rent houses in multiple occupation (HMO) need a licence. 

HMO licences

An HMO licence is required if all of the following apply:

• It has five or more occupiers comprising two or more separate households, regardless of number of storeys
• It is a house or self-contained flat but is not a purpose-built flat situated in a block comprising three or more self-contained flats
• Some or all of the occupants share amenities such as bathrooms, toilets or cooking facilities
• At least one of the occupants pays rent (or the accommodation is linked to their employment)
• It is the occupiers' main residence
• It is not an exempt property such as a student hall of residence, or owned or managed by the council, a social landlord or the NHS

Operating a licensable HMO without a licence is an offence which can be dealt with by a financial penalty or a conviction in court.

From 1 October 2018, mandatory licensing is no longer limited to HMOs that are three or more storeys high, but includes buildings with one or two storeys.