Who needs to apply for the licence?
(Fit and proper persons)

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A person owning or managing an HMO which is required to be licensed must apply to the Local Housing Authority (local authority) for a licence for that property unless a Temporary Exemption Notice has been applied for or is in force.

The licence holder must be the landlord or person who manages the property and to whom the tenants pay rent if different from the landlord. The licence holder needs to be the person in control of the property.

It is important that the licence holder is the person who can authorise, organise and pay for essential repairs. They also must be available to tenants in case of questions or problems that arise with respect to the property. They must have the means to resolve them where reasonably practicable to the standards required by the Housing Acts.

The local authority must grant a licence if it is satisfied that:

• The HMO is reasonably suitable for occupation by the number of persons permitted under the licence having regard at least to the minimum prescribed standards of amenities and facilities. These include the number, type and quality of shared bathrooms, toilets and cooking facilities.
• The proposed licence holder is the most appropriate person to hold the license.
• The licence holder would be a fit and proper person. The proposed manager, if not the licence holder, is fit and proper and that other persons involved in the management of the house are also fit and proper and the proposed management arrangements are satisfactory; including that the person involved in the management of the house is competent and the structures and funding for the management are suitable.

See the Fit & Proper Persons page to find out more