HMO Licensing Guide UK
Council-by-Council · Up to date · UK-wide

HMO Licensing in the UK: Council-by-Council Guidance for Landlords

Over 497,000 properties require an HMO licence in England. Fees range from £375 to over £1,500 per property. Operating without one risks a £30,000 civil penalty and a Rent Repayment Order of up to 12 months rent.

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London BoroughsWest MidlandsGreater ManchesterYorkshire and HumberSouth WestSouth EastEast MidlandsNorth WestNorth EastEast of England
497,000+
Licensable HMOs in England
£30,000
Max civil penalty per breach
12 months
Max Rent Repayment Order
£375–£1,500
Typical fee per property
Licence Types

Which HMO licence applies to your property?

The Housing Act 2004 introduced three core schemes: Mandatory, Additional and Selective. Each is triggered by different occupancy, property and council criteria — and many areas overlap with an Article 4 Direction that withdraws permitted development rights.

Mandatory HMO Licensing
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Additional HMO Licensing
Read the guide →
Selective Licensing
Read the guide →
Article 4 Directions
Read the guide →
Section 257 HMOs
Read the guide →
Latest Licensing Guides

HMO licensing guides & council updates

Council-by-council fees, application requirements, scheme expiry dates and enforcement updates for UK landlords.

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HMO licensing requirements change frequently. All fee figures and scheme dates should be verified directly with the relevant local authority before making any application or investment decision.