Houses in Multiple Occupation Licence

Certain houses in multiple occupation (HMO's) are required to be licensed by Mole Valley District Council (MVDC).

A House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) includes:

bedsits
hostels
houses converted into flats
some shared houses

An HMO is any house or flat which is occupied by more than one household (i.e. not all members of the same family). If these facilities are for exclusive use but they are not self-contained with the living accommodation, the property will still count as an HMO.

In simple terms, only large HMO's that meet the following criteria will need to be licensed:

it accommodates five or more people
it holds two or more households, and occupants share or lack basic amenities such as bathrooms, toilets or cooking facilities
it is three or more storey's high

HMO licensing seeks to ensure that:

the house is or can be made suitable for multiple occupation
the applicant is a fit and proper person and the most appropriate person to hold the licence
the proposed manager has control of the house, and is a fit and proper person to be the manager
the management arrangements are satisfactory

If you are a landlord, manager or tenant looking for advice on licensing requirements or are aware of an unlicensed HMO operating in your area then please contact the Environmental Health Team via email env.health@molevalley.gov.uk.

Applying for a licence

If you would like to apply for a licence online, please complete an electronic application through Businesslink. Alternatively, please email env.health@molevalley.gov.uk. An Environmental Health Officer will advise you about licensing and the steps that have to be taken to apply for a licence. You can find more information about HMO licensing on the 'Department for Communities and Local Government' website.

Tacit consent

Tacit consent does not apply to these licences as it is in the public interest for MVDC to process your application before it is granted.

Downloads:

HMO Application Form [177kb]

HMO Policy 2012 [107kb]

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Internet links:

Department for Communities and Local Government

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