Apply for a licence for a house in multiple occupation (HMO)
The application form for mandatory and additional HMO licences will be temporarily unavailable from 7 April 2024.
During this period, if you need to apply for a Mandatory or Additional HMO license, sign up for our updates.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused. Our team is working to minimise this disruption and to relaunch the application forms as quickly as possible.
Required information
Please make sure you have the following information to hand before starting your application
- details of the person or organisation making the application
- details of the proposed licence holder (a person or organisation)
- details of the property, including the number of rooms and facilities
- the number of households and tenants you want the property to be licensed for
- a tenancy information pack which should include, where applicable, up-to-date
- electrical inspection certificate
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fire risk assessment
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gas safety certificate
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emergency lighting system documentation
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portable appliance test certificate(s)
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fire detection warning documentation
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EPC certificate
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building control certificate of completion.
Additionally, we will ask to see floor plans in advance of your inspection. A member of the licensing team will be in touch with you to discuss this.
On the day of the inspection of the proposed property please ensure you have the original documents submitted as part of the tenancy information pack available to show the inspector.
Payment
We will ask you to pay for your licence in two parts. The first part is payable when you make your application. We will ask you for your final payment once we have taken the decision to issue you with a licence.
Refunds
We will always refund the first payment if your property was not a licensable HMO when you made your application. We will only consider refunding the first payment if your property needed a licence when you applied in exceptional circumstances.
Before you apply
Make sure you've checked who you need to tell about your licence application.
National mandatory HMO applications
By law, an HMO must have a national mandatory licence if it:
- has five or more people in more than one household, and
- shares amenities, such as bathrooms, toilets and cooking facilities.
National Mandatory Licences, if granted, are valid for five years.
Lewisham additional HMO applications
Additional licensing applies to certain Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) that fall outside the scope of the National Mandatory Scheme and are not specifically excluded from Licensing. Lewisham's Additional HMO Licences, if granted, are valid for the duration of the scheme.
If you are applying for a new licence, renewing a licence or a variation* to a licence, please use
- the Assisted Application form if you are a charity, a portfolio landlord or applying for a very large HMO (with 15 or more lettable units**)
- the Self Service form if you are applying for HMOs with less than 15 lettable units**
* We cannot vary a licence to change the name of the licence holder. If you wish to change the name on the licence, you will need to apply for a new licence.
** A lettable unit is a room that could be occupied as living accommodation by a household or part of a household that does not form part of the common parts of the property.