The Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation

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Marmion House, Lichfield Street, Tamworth, Staffordshire B79 7BZ Phone: 01827 709709 enquiries@tamworth.gov.uk

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The Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation

The Housing Act 2004 requires landlords of many Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) to apply for licences. The HMOs that need to be licensed are those with:

- three or more storeys;
- occupied by five or more people forming two or more households (i.e. people not related, living together as a couple, etc); and
- have an element of shared facilities (eg kitchen, bathroom, etc).

A full application for a licence must be submitted where the above criteria is met. A full application means that all enclosures requested on the application form are provided and the fee has been paid. The fee for a licence was decided by the Council’s Housing Committee on 30th June 2010. The fee for each application is £574.80 for a five bedspace house with an additional £37.79 for each bedspace above five. If your HMO requires a licence and you are taking steps with a view to securing that the house will not require a licence then you can apply for a Temporary Exemption Notice (TEN).

When Tamworth Borough Council receives a correctly completed application they will respond to the applicant to confirm receipt and arrange an appointment to inspect the HMO. A refund of 20% of the licence fee is given where all supporting information is given within 28 days.

Tamworth Borough Council must grant a licence if each of the following circumstances are met.
a) the property is an House in Multiple Occupation requiring a licence in accordance with mandatory licensing required by Part 2 of the Housing Act 2004, and
b) the Council is satisfied that subject to the conditions identified within the proposed licence, the property is suitable for occupation by the number of persons and number of households identified within the proposed licence, and
c) that the proposed licence holder is a fit and proper person, and
d) the proposed licence holder is the most appropriate person to hold the licence, and
e) the person managing the property will be the proposed licence holder, and
f) subject to the conditions of the licence the management arrangements are satisfactory.

Failure to submit a full application for an HMO licence or request a TEN is an offence. Any landlords/managers of HMOs will face enforcement action if they are found to be operating without a TEN or a licence. You can be fined up to £20,000 if found guilty at magistrates court for such offences.

Further information on HMO Licensing

For further information on licensing please click the relevant link:

Submit an application for an HMO

Tell us about a change of circumstances concerning your HMO

Fit and Proper person

Temporary Exemption Notice

Licence Conditions

Tamworth Borough Council HMO Standards

Appeals against decisions

Register of HMO Licences

The Council maintains a register of HMO licences, which is available for inspection at Marmion House, Lichfield Street, Tamworth,B79 7BZ during office hours. To view the register on-line click here.