Houses in multiple occupation

A house in multiple occupation (HMO) is a building, or part of a building, that is being lived in by a group of people.

For example:

• A house or flat converted into three or more bedsits
• A house or flat occupied by three or more friends, work colleagues or students
• A house that has self-contained flats where less than two thirds of the flats are owner-occupied. The flats were not converted in accordance with the 1991 Building Regulations

Help, information and guidance

We have put together a handbook for landlords about HMOs

It contains information about:

• licenses
• fire safety
• space standards
• planning applications
• what should be expected from a landlord and a tenant

Licensing

All HMOs occupied by five or more people need a licence. It is an offence to operate without a licence.

The fee for a licence is £578.55

Apply for a new HMO licence (Microsoft Word version)

There is also an alternative PDF version of the new HMO licence application

Apply for the renewal of an HMO licence (Microsoft Word version)

There is also an alternative PDF version of the HMO licence renewal application

Once the form is complete, email the Private Sector Housing Team or send it to:

Public Register: Licensed HMOs

Under section 232 of the Housing Act 2004, local authorities are obliged to maintain and make available a public register of licensed HMOs.

• View the public register of licensed HMOs for Babergh District
• View the public register of licensed HMOs for Mid Suffolk District

The register also includes details of properties for which a licence application has been received, but the licence not yet issued. Provided that the application received is valid, it is acceptable for such a property to operate as a licensable HMO. Please note that we are not able to provide any landlord information for these properties, as this information does not pass into the public domain until the licence has been issued. 

While we endeavour to make the public register as comprehensive as possible, where a property houses vulnerable tenants, such as persons seeking refuge from domestic abuse, this property’s details will be redacted from the register. A small number of properties may be excluded from this list for public safety reasons.

The information provided on the registers set out the HMOs which are currently licensed by the Council but do not provide the total number of HMOs in the district.  This information should not be relied upon for deciding whether a property is an HMO or not. 

Please note that under GDPR, individuals have to specifically opt in to receive marketing correspondence. The publishing of licence holders' addresses on the public register does not constitute consent of the licence holders to be contacted for marketing purposes.