Houses in multiple occupation (HMO) licensing

Find out whether you need an HMO licence for your property and how to apply.

You must have a licence if:

  • you have a rental property with 5 or more people from 2 or more households
    and
  • your tenants share a toilet, bathroom, living room or kitchen

It is a criminal offence to have control of, or manage a licensable HMO without having made an application to the council.

You can find more information about renting out your property - houses in multiple occupation (HMO) from the government's website.

Standards for HMOs

All properties must meet the minimum standards for HMOs.

How to apply for a new HMO licence

After selecting the green button below you’ll need to:

  1. Have a credit or debit card for payment of the fee
  2. Create an account if you do not already have one
  3. Select Licensing and Apply for a licence from the left hand menu
  4. Select HMO licence
  5. Select New licence
  6. Select New HMO Mandatory
  7. Then follow the onscreen instructions to complete the application

Apply for a new HMO licence

Renewing your HMO licence

An HMO licence is valid for 5 years.

You must renew your licence before it runs out. You should apply at least 2 months before it expires to give time to process your application.

How to apply to renew an HMO licence

After selecting the green button below you’ll need to:

  1. Have a credit or debit card for payment of the fee
  2. Create an account if you do not already have one
  3. Select Licensing and Apply for a licence from the left hand menu
  4. Select HMO licence
  5. Select Renewal licence
  6. Select Renewal HMO Mandatory
  7. Then follow the onscreen instructions to complete the application

Apply to renew an HMO licence

Risk assessment

Once an application is received, we carry out a Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) risk assessment on your HMO. If our inspector finds any unacceptable risks during the assessment you must carry out work to remove them.

What happens next

Once your application is approved we will send you a draft licence. This will give you the opportunity to question the conditions we have put on your licence. This is called the consultation period.

Once the consultation period is finished, the issue fee (part 2) needs to be paid. The full licence will then be issued to you.

Licence conditions

Your HMO licence will contain a number of conditions, including:

  • fire safety regulations
  • kitchen facilities requirements
  • property heating requirements
  • bathroom facility requirements

You must read the conditions supplied with your licence to make sure you comply with them within the timescale stated. If you do not comply with your licence conditions, you will be breaking the law.

Temporary Exemption Notice

A Temporary Exemption Notice (TEN) exempts a HMO property from the licence requirements for a period of 3 months.

A licensable HMO must be either licensed or exempt from licensing requirements

You can apply for a TEN if your licensable HMO property does not have a licence and you are taking action to ensure that the property will not need a licence.

You will need to provide documentary evidence of the action you are taking to support your application. 

If granted the TEN will exempt the property from licensing requirements for 3 months from the date of service.

In exceptional circumstances you can apply for a second, and final, 3 month exemption. Please note that a second TEN is not guaranteed after the first notice has expired.

To apply

You will need to download and complete the application form. You can return it to us using the contact information listed in the form.

TEN Application form [pdf] 535KB

Check if a property is licensed

We keep a public register of all properties that have an HMO licence including the name of the landlord.

If you live in an HMO you can check if your landlord's property is licensed by checking the public register (select ‘Licence type’ of HMO Mandatory).

If your landlord is renting out an HMO without a licence you can reclaim the rent you have paid to them.

Additional HMO licensing consultation

We undertook a public consultation between 12 June and 20 August 2023 on our proposal to introduce an additional HMO licensing scheme in River ward in Littlehampton and Hotham and Marine wards in Bognor Regis. More information about the proposals and the survey results can be found on the consultation page.