Licensing of houses and flats in multiple occupation (HMOs) and in Selective Licensing Streets

The following types of houses and flats require a licence:

Mandatory licensing - HMOs occupied by five or more people in at least two households - is no longer limited to HMOs that are three or more storeys high (since 1 October 2018)

The following two licensing schemes began on 5 June 2017

Additional licensing - HMOs occupied by three or four people in at least two households

Selective - any property let to tenants a which is not an HMO but is in the one of the designated selective licensing streets

Map and list of streets in Hammersmith & Fulham subject to selective licensing.

If you have any queries or need help please see frequently asked questions or contact us

020 8753 1703
phs@lbhf.gov.uk

Do I need a licence?

Apply for a licence

Applications for a property licence can only be made online.

Apply for a property licence

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. In 2020/21 the fee is £1,215 for a 5 bedroom HMO plus £13.10 for each additional bedroom

For an Additional HMO or Selective Licence the fee is £555

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 – to cover the costs of processing the application; and Part 2 – to cover 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.

• H&F Standards and Guidance for HMOs April 2020 (pdf 663KB)
• H&F Property Licensing Conditions HMOs April 2020 (pdf 180KB)

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 April 2020 (pdf 379KB)
• H&F Property Licensing Conditions Selective Licensing April 2020 (pdf 168KB)

The council amended and simplified the standards and conditions in April 2020.

Register of licences

Download an extract of the register:

• Register of HMO property licences April 2020 (xls 153KB)

If you wish to arrange a viewing of the full register or to request certified copies of it as per your right to do so under the Housing Act 2004, please email phs@lbhf.gov.uk . The required fee for a copy of the register is £54, although there is no charge made to view the register, providing no attempt is made to copy it.