Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO)
What an HMO is
A house in multiple occupation (HMO) is any rented property with three or more people forming two or more households and sharing a facility such as a kitchen or bathroom.
Properties that meet these criteria must comply with the requirements set out in the Housing Act 2004 and The Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006.
Licensing an HMO
An HMO must have a licence if it is occupied by five or more people in two or more households.
Failure to license an HMO
Letting out or managing a licensable HMO without a licence and/or failure to comply with the requirements of a licence is a criminal offence. Landlords who do not comply could face:
- an unlimited fine
- civil penalty of up to £30,000.
Tenants may also be able to claim back up to 12 months' rent via a Rent Repayment Order.
Find out more in our:
Private Rented Sector (PRS) Enforcement Policy (PDF 264KB);- Private Sector Housing Civil Penalty Policy (PDF 224KB).
Apply for a licence
- Apply online to license a house in multiple occupation
- Apply online to vary a licence for a house in multiple occupation
- Apply online to renew a licence for a house in multiple occupation
Application process
Read more about the HMO licensing application process (PDF 165KB). The guide also includes a list of all required supporting documents. For full details on 'fit and proper person' requirements, please read our 
Fit and Proper Landlord Statement (PDF 524KB).
Licence fees
Our fees for 2024-2025 are as follows:
| Description | Charge |
|---|---|
| HMO Licence fee Part 1: Initial licence fee application (includes renewal of licences) for property up to five rooms. Part 1 of the HMO licence application is not refundable, due to costs incurred and works carried out by our officers | £841 |
| HMO Licence fee Part 2: Ongoing management of five-year licence (includes renewals) | £506 |
| Additional bedrooms (for each room over the standard five rooms) | £18 |
You can pay your licence fee online using the link below.
HMO licence conditions
Your HMO licence will contain a number of conditions, including:
- Fire safety requirements
- Facilities and property conditions
- Management requirements
Property conditions
Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs) have a minimum standard that they must conform to. These are outlined in our Amenity Standards for Houses in Multiple Occupation (PDF 318KB).
Fire safety
The Fire Safety requirements within HMOs are outlined in this Guide to Fire Safety in Houses in Multiple Occupation (PDF 1MB).
We've created a Fire Risk Assessment Guide and Example Form (PDF 513KB) to help landlords conduct the thorough fire safety risk assessments.
Reporting a suspected HMO in Dacorum
If you're aware of a property in Dacorum that's available to rent as an HMO, or if you suspect an unregistered HMO, please report it using our online form below.
Report a suspected unlicensed HMO in Dacorum
Public register
We are required (under section 232 of the Housing Act 2004) to maintain and make available a public Register of Licensed Houses in Multiple Occupation (PDF 3.5MB).
Find out more about the legislation regarding the public register of licences.
More information
For more information, please email pshousing@dacorum.gov.uk or call 01442 228000 and ask for "Private Sector Housing". You can also read our Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Policy (PDF 833KB).
For more on HMOs and licensing, please visit the Government or Shelter websites.
Page Last Updated: Tuesday, 09 April 2024 at 04:01 PM