How To Get House In Multiple Occupancy Licence In London
Landlords who own large properties can sometimes have a hard time finding one tenant to rent the entire location. This is especially true for town homes or houses located in London. Sometimes these rental properties can either be too large for families or too expensive. A simple solution to this problem is to rent out large houses to multiple tenants. In order to do this legally, a landlord may first need to obtain a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licence from the local council. A property is defined as a “house in multiple occupation” when three or more tenants from separate households will be living in the premises and sharing the kitchen and bathroom.
Instructions
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1
House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) definition
The local councils where the HMO is located define if a licence is required. However, in most cases, a large HMO will always need a licence. A large HMO is defined as a property that has three or more floors and houses five or more tenants that are made up of more than one family. Some councils also expect small HMOs to get a license too. Do get details on your councils requirements. -
2
Application
Each local council has its own separate application for a HMO licence. Landlords need to first figure out which local council they fall under by going here. Once you have the details, you will need to apply in person to the council or through a manager. -
3
Informing all parties related to the property
When applying for a licence, you must tell the following individuals about the licence:
- Owner of property
- Future licence holder
- Mortgagee
- Long lease renters
- Any individual that is in contractual agreement based on the HMO licence -
4
Council Requirements
The Local council will look into the following to assess whether an applicant should be issued a licence:
- Suitability of HMO for tenants
- Suitability of kitchen, bathroom and toilets
- Suitable landlord
- Suitable management procedure -
5
Conditions of Licence
Once the HMO licence is issued, the council usually sets certain conditions on a licence holder. In most cases, they include the following:
- Yearly gas safety certificate
- Safety of electrical and other equipment
- Smoke alarm installation and maintenance
- Supplying tenants with copies of terms for living in the HMO
- Minimum standard of facilities
- HMO Managment procedures including tenant interaction -
6
Licence Refusal
If a licence application is refused by a local council, applicants do have recourse in the Residential Property Tribunal. To get more information on the procedure and get advice, click here. -
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Licence Duration
When a licence is issued, it lasts for five years. This can be cancelled if the conditions of the local council are not met.
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