Apply for a House in Multiple Occupation licence

Before applying for a licence, you need to:

• make sure you have the correct planning use for the property (opens new window). It will either be 'C4' if there are five or six people or 'Sui Generis', Latin for unclassified, if there are more than six people living there. Sui generis means buildings that do not fall within a particular use class. 
• write to other people that have a legal interest in the property. This could be a freeholder or mortgage lender telling them that you intend to apply for a licence. 

Apply for a licence

If you are a landlord operating a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO), you must apply for a Mandatory HMO licence:

• if you have 5 or more persons forming 2 or more households

Please be aware that some areas of Gateshead also operate additional HMO licensing for smaller HMOs.

Using the link below, you must set up an account and complete a Mandatory HMO licence application.

All applications for a new licence must be made online and paid in two parts as part of the application process.

If the licence holder is no longer involved in the management of the property, the new manager must apply for a new licence. Licences are not transferable to other parties.

During the application process you will be asked to:

• prove you are a 'fit and proper person' to hold a licence
• demonstrate that you have adequate management arrangements in place
• take action to assist with antisocial behaviour in your properties
• upload a number of documents - if you do not have these to hand you can save the application form and return to attach these at a later point in time

These include 

• the current Landlords Gas Safety Certificate
• an electrical installation condition report completed within the last five years - if you made improvements, we will need proof
• a copy of the tenancy agreement you issue to all tenants
• a copy of your management agreement if you use an agent to manage the property
• certificates confirming the automatic fire detection system and the emergency lighting are working correctly
• portable electrical appliance test certificates (if supplied)
• plan of the property with room sizes
• Energy Performance Certificate

Apply for a licence (opens new window)