What if my HMO is Registered or Accredited with the Council?

>> Registered HMOs

Regulations will provide that where an HMO is registered under a local authority Registration Scheme with Control Provisions the property may be passported into licensing. Where the HMO is registered and will be subject to mandatory licensing it must be passported into licensing. A licence will be granted for the residual period of registration and at no cost to the licence holder.

>> Accredited HMOs

Councils will to continue to encourage landlords to Accredit their properties and value the good working relationship that has been built up with landlords via Accreditation.

If your property is Accredited with the Council and it is an HMO which needs to be licensed you will have to apply for the licence in the normal way.

If you have a property Accredited with Bath & North East Somerset Council you will be entitled to a reduced licence fee if you have received Accreditation for the HMO to be licensed before the 6th April 2006.

For HMOs within Bristol City Council boundaries, you will get the discount if you sign up for Accreditation on the cover sheet to the HMO licence application form. In this case, an inspection will take place after the licence has been issued and you will be asked to carry out any work within 6 months - some work can actually be carried out for you free of charge. If you don't subsequently get Accreditation for the property you would be invoiced for the discounted amount.