New discretionary licensing schemes approved
On the 6 December 2021 we approved the renewal of our discretionary licensing schemes. The renewed additional licensing scheme and the selective licensing scheme will be effective from the 5 June 2022 when the old scheme ends.
Find out more: New discretionary licensing schemes approved.
There are 3 property licensing schemes in H&F. Read the descriptions below to find out which one you need.
Mandatory HMO licences
You will need a mandatory house in multiple occupation (HMO) licence for your rented property if:
- 5 or more people live there
- in 2 or more households
- and share amenities such as a kitchen, toilet or bathroom
- and it is their only or main residence and rent is payable
- and it is not a purpose built flat in a block where there are three or more purpose built flats
You will also need planning permission for change of use from dwelling house to HMO, if there are 7 or more people living in the HMO. You must apply for planning permission separately from applying for an HMO licence.
Find out more about use classes and change.
Additional HMO licensing
You will need an Additional house in multiple occupation (HMO) Licence if you are a landlord of a rented house or flat if:
- 3 or 4 people live there
- in 2 or more households
- and share amenities such as a kitchen, toilet or bathroom
- and it is their only or main residence and rent is payable.
HMO licensing applies to houses and self-contained "flats in multiple occupation" including converted flats and purpose built flats in a block.
HMO regulations and / or licensing may apply to certain other types of building, for example if it is a house converted into flats where some are not self-contained, or a "section 257 HMO" that has been converted into self-contained flats where:
- the conversion did not comply with the appropriate building standards and still does not comply and
- at least one-third of the self-contained flats are rented to tenants.
Some types of building are exempt from definition as HMOs such as:
- those managed by registered social landlords or education providers or the health service
- those occupied by religious communities and
- those occupied by its owner with up to two lodgers.
HMO licensing is designed to improve standards of property management and living conditions in HMOs.
Selective licensing
You will need a Selective Licence if you are a landlord of any house or flat you rent to a tenant or tenants in 24 specified streets in the borough. Selective Licensing is designed to improve conditions in parts of the borough where the levels of antisocial behaviour, rubbish nuisance and noise problems arising from rented accommodation were above average.
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What are the 24 specified streets?
The 8 new streets are marked with an asterisk.
Askew Road
Baron's Court Road*
Bloemfontein Road
Blythe Road*
Coningham Road*
Crookham Road*
Dalling Road
Dawes Road
Fulham Road
Goldhawk Road*
Greyhound Road
King Street
Lime Grove
New King's Road
North End Road
Richmond Way*
Scrubs Lane
Shepherd's Bush Road
Sinclair Road*
Talgarth Road
Uxbridge Road
Wandsworth Bridge Road*
Wood Lane
Woodstock Grove
More information about selective licensing
If you have any queries or need help please see frequently asked questions or contact us on 020 8753 1703 or phs@lbhf.gov.uk
Apply for a licence
Applications for a property licence can only be made online.
The type of licence you need will be determined by the answers you give on the application form
Mandatory, additional and selective licensing FAQs
To find out more, visit frequently asked questions about mandatory, additional and selective licensing.
Licence fee
If the property requires a Mandatory HMO Licence, the fee depends on the number of bedrooms. The fee is £1,387 for a 5-bedroom HMO plus £170 for each additional bedroom.
For an Additional HMO or Selective Licence the fee is £597.50.
There is a discount of £80 if you are a member of an accredited landlord body such as the National and Residential Landlords' Associations or London Landlord Accreditation Scheme or a discount of £50 if you have signed up to the landlord rental charter as part of the application process. Only one discount is applied per licence.
The licence fee is in two parts:
- Part 1 covers the costs of processing the application
- Part 2 covers the costs of managing and enforcing the scheme.
For Mandatory HMO licences the split of fees is Part 1 25% and Part 2 75%.
For Additional HMO and Selective licences the split of fees is 50/50. If an application is processed but the licence is not granted, the Part 2 fee can be refunded to the applicant.
Standards
HMOs must meet the following minimum standards for amenities and the way they are managed and the licence conditions.
Guidance for amenities required in HMOs 2024
H&F Property Licensing Conditions HMOs May 2023 (pdf 122KB)
Houses and flats in Selective Licensing streets must meet the following minimum standards for the way they are managed, used and occupied and the licence conditions.
H&F Standards and Guidance for Houses and Flats in Selective Licensing Streets (pdf 379KB)
Improving private rented housing
Improving private rented housing