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. The fee for a licence 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, you can apply for a Temporary Exemption Notice (TEN).

We will respond to the applicant to confirm receipt of the application and arrange an inspection. 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 a HMO requiring a licence in accordance with mandatory licensing required by the Housing Act 2004
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
c) The proposed licence holder is a fit and proper person
d) The proposed licence holder is the most appropriate person to hold the licence
e) The person managing the property will be the proposed licence holder
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. HMO landlords/managers will face enforcement action if they are found to be operating without a TEN or a licence and face fines of up to £20,000 if found guilty.