Landlords
House of multiple occupation application process
A house in multiple occupation (HMO) is a property occupied by 3 or more people (including children) who form more than 1 family and share either a kitchen or a bathroom. A family includes co-habiting partners.
- Essex HMO amenity standards (pdf 283KB)
- LACORS – Housing Fire Safety (pdf 3MB)
- The Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006
If the HMO has 5 or more occupants, living as 2 or more households, sharing facilities, it must be licensed.
A property with more than 6 occupants must have Planning permission to operate as a large HMO.
How to Apply
The EFDC online application service allows you to submit your application, upload your supporting documentation and pay the appropriate licence fee.
Paper applications are no longer accepted.
You will need to upload the following paperwork with your application form:
- a gas safety certificate
- fire alarm and/or emergency lighting test certificates
- an electrical installation condition report
- portable appliance testing certificate(s)
- a floor plan of the property showing room sizes, position of bathrooms, toilets and kitchens, the kitchen layout, position of smoke and fire alarms and fire doors.
The application process
A licence must be applied for before a property is occupied by 5 or more people, who share facilities and are unrelated. However, if your property is already occupied by 5 people and does not have a licence, apply immediately.
Licence fee
A licence fee per 5 units of accommodation is £1,005.50, and an additional £39.50 is charged for each extra unit of accommodation.
You must have a HMO Licence for each HMO property you have. If your HMO properties are in different Council areas, you need to apply to each Council for each HMO property you have.
We will grant a licence if
- the property meets the minimum standards for an HMO in Epping Forest District Council
- the applicant is a , the most appropriate person to hold the licence and is competent to do so
- the management arrangements are satisfactory
- the financial arrangements for the management are suitable
- any necessary planning consents have been obtained
We will visit the property from time to time to ensure that licence conditions are being met.
Licences will normally be granted for a five-year period, but the Council may grant licences for shorter periods in certain circumstances such as if works are required at the property or the Council has concerns regarding the management arrangements.
Will Tacit Consent Apply?
No. It is in the public interest that the local authority must process your application before it can be granted. If you have not heard from your council within a reasonable period, please contact them. Contact details are shown below.
A property with more than 6 occupants must have Planning permission to operate as a large HMO.
What happens next
Upon receipt of a complete HMO application, an officer will contact you to arrange an inspection of the property. The minimum time taken for this process is six weeks, but can be longer. Applicants will receive updates during this process.
Licence application or Licence Holder Redress
Please contact our private sector housing team
If you are not happy with a decision the authority has made. If you are not happy with our response, you may appeal
You must make any appeal within 28 days of the authority’s decision. Details of how to appeal will be available to the HMO owner/manager once the Council has informed them of the decision.
Consumer Complaint
If a licence is granted, and you wish to appeal against it being granted, you may make your appeal to a residential property tribunal within 28 days of the decision being made.
Apply online
For more information please contact our private sector housing team
- Telephone: 01992 564348
- Email: privatesectorhousing@eppingforestdc.gov.uk