Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)
Contents
Apply for a new HMO licence
To make a licence application valid we need to receive:
- a fully completed application
- a signed declaration
- the fee, paid in full
Licence holders and managers (if identified) can be the landlord, manager or another person or body who has control of the property.
They must:
- be over 18 years old
- pass the 'fit and proper person' test
- not live abroad
- not be in prison
If any of the above apply, then another person or body will need to be appointed as the licence holder and manager.
Select the area to apply
Until unified conditions are in place across West Northamptonshire, the local conditions of the former district and borough councils apply. You will need to select the correct area that the property is located in.
To make a licence application, please complete an online application form. If you do not already have an account you will need to register by applying for an HMO licence below. This will enable you to begin your application and save an incomplete form and come back to it later.
If you are applying for an Additional Licence in the 2025 to 2030 Scheme and your property was not in the 2020 to 2025 area, the online application form will not currently accept an Additional Licence Application.
Please select ‘Mandatory Application’ and we will change it to Additional. We are working to fix this issue.
When the online application is complete you will need to pay by credit or debit card.
While the procedures required to issue a licence are fairly lengthy, we have tried to make the application process as easy as possible to understand.
Please refer to the NBC HMO Application Guidance Notes for further assistance:
To make a licence application, please complete an online application form.
Please contact the HMO Licencing Team at [email protected] for an application form.
Charges
Our fees and charges policy contains information on which licence fee is applicable to your application. The total fee will depend on the number of persons the licence will permit to occupy.
The Part 1 fee must be paid when you make the application. This covers the initial cost of processing the application. Your application will only be processed if you have paid your fee.
The Part 2 fee must be paid within 14 days of “notice of intention to grant a licence”. This fee covers the cost of enforcing licence conditions. Your licence will not be issued until you have paid this fee.
Refunds
Stage 1 fees for withdrawn applications are not refundable.
If you withdraw your HMO licence application, and it is subsequently found that you are operating the property as an HMO, you will be required to make a new application. You may be subject to formal enforcement action for operating an unlicensed HMO.
Duration of licence
An HMO licences may be granted for a maximum of 5 years.
The length of the HMO licence may be reduced, from 5 years to an appropriate lesser period. Our Enforcement Policy provides examples of when a licence term may be reduced.
How long it will take to issue a licence
We aim to issue a new HMO license within 26 weeks of your application. The process may take longer if a representation is made against the issue or terms of the draft licence.
If you have not heard from us within 20 weeks, please email us at [email protected]
Please note that ‘Tacit Consent’ does not apply, given that we must check the HMO meets the prescribed standards, including whether we need to inspect the property to confirm it is suitable for licensing.
In the interest of public safety, each licence application will be given full consideration by the council before it is approved or rejected.
HMO licence pre-application advice visit
If you are a landlord thinking about converting a property into an HMO, you can arrange for us to visit to advise you on the HMO licensing requirements before you complete works or apply for a licence.
There is a charge for this service, for more information see the Private Sector Housing fees and charges.
To request a visit, please email [email protected].
Last updated 19 September 2025