HMO Licensing

Overview

If you are a landlord and you own a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO), you may need a HMO licence. A HMO is a building or a part of a building (such as a flat) that is occupied by more than two persons living as more than one household.
Not all HMOs need to be licensed – see frequently asked questions below.

To apply for a new HMO Licence, or to renew an existing HMO Licence, please complete our application form and the relevant 'How much do I pay?' table, attached below. A full list of FAQs, as well as helpful leaflets and links, can also be found further down this page.

To protect tenants in HMOs from poor conditions, the government regulates:

the quality of the accommodation
that you or your representatives are suitable to manage a HMO
that you do not have too many people living in your HMO
that HMOs considered high-risk are monitored.

The HMO licensing team deals with all aspects of HMO licensing such as:

helping you through the application process
assisting with any events after your licence is issued, for example if you wish to vary the terms and conditions of the licence to increase the permitted number of tenants, or to change the people names on the original application
helping you to renew your licence when the old one is due to expire.

You can find full details about licensing, relicensing and fees, as well as a wealth of helpful advice below. For further information, visit the central government HMO licensing page.

You can also apply online at the Business Link website.

Our licensing fees were updated in April 2013, see the attachment below.

Please get in touch if you have any queries - HMO Licensing Team, 0121 303 4009.

In partnership with EUGO - find out more.

Essential Information

If you are a landlord, or thinking of becoming a landlord and need to get a HMO licence, you will need complete a licence application form with which you must provide:
- the appropriate licence fee (see FAQs below for more details)
- a floor plan of the property indicating room sizes, location of the bathroom, toilet and kitchen facilities plus the position of any smoke alarms, emergency lighting units and fire doors
- a valid, current gas safety certificate for the HMO which must be renewed annually (if the property has a gas supply). This is an absolute essential if the property has a gas supply and any licence application received that does not include a current gas safety certificate will not be regarded as being valid. Continued failure to provide an appropriate gas safety certificate within 14 days of a reasonable request to do so may result either in legal proceedings for failure to make a valid licence application or refusal to grant a licence. Furthermore the case may be referred to the Health and Safety Executive for any action considered necessary under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.
- A valid electrical test certificate to prove the safety of the electrical installation. If you do not currently have an electrical test certificate, you will be asked to supply one within a specified period of time as a condition of the licence
- A portable appliance test certificate with respect to any electrical equipment you supply as part of the tenancy. If you do not currently have a portable appliance test certificate, you will be asked to supply one within a specified period of time as a condition of the licence
- A declaration that all supplied upholstered furniture complies to the 1993 amendments to The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 which extends the scope of the Consumer Protection Act 1987 (CPA). To comply with the regulations, your furniture must:
- carry a manufacturer’s label which must be permanent and non-detachable
- have fire resistant filling material
- pass the ‘match resistance test’ as prescribed
- pass the ‘cigarette test’ as prescribed.
The following items of furniture would be covered by the above:
- armchairs, three-piece suites, sofas, sofa beds, futons and other convertible furniture
- beds, bed bases and headboards, mattresses, divans and pillows
- nursery furniture
- garden furniture which could be used indoors
- loose, stretch and fitted covers for furniture, scatter cushions, seat pads and pillows.
A Guide to the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations can be found at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills website.
- Details of what fire precautions currently exist in the property. This would include the location of any existing fire doors and smoke alarms. If your property does not comply with required standards you will be required to install additional fire safety measures as necessary within a specified period of time as a condition of the licence
- A written statement for each occupier of the terms on which they occupy the property, for example, a tenancy agreement.
In some circumstances, we may also apply licence conditions that:
- restrict the use or occupation of parts of the HMO
- require you to take steps to deal with anti social behaviour arising from either the occupants or visitors if there are any reported problems
- require you to improve the condition of the property and its contents, such as furniture, bathroom , toilet and kitchen facilities
- require you to carry out works to make the house suitable for occupation by the intended maximum number of persons or households within a specified timeframe
- require the licence holder or manager to attend an approved training course.
We aim to process valid applications up to the point of making a decision whether or not to grant a licence within eight weeks of receipt. The length of the application process will depend on a number of things, including whether we need to inspect the property to confirm it is suitable for licensing.

For more information see the 'Service Standards - HMO Licensing' booklet attached below.
Private Rented Services
PO Box 16589
Birmingham
B2 2JB

Telephone: 0121 303 4009
Email: houenforcement@birmingham.gov.uk