Property Business Insights

England only

HMO Licensing Checker

Enter a postcode to identify the responsible local authority, see the mandatory HMO licensing position in England, and check any additional or selective schemes we hold on record for that council.

Guidance last reviewed 13 October 2026 · Published by Property Business Insights

Licensing in England works at two levels. Mandatory licensing is national and covers larger HMOs. On top of that, councils can designate additional and selective schemes for parts or all of their area. This checker tells you which council is responsible and what we have on record; the council remains the definitive authority.

Full UK postcode, e.g. SW1A 1AA. Your postcode is not stored or sent to analytics.

HMO licensing is devolved. This tool gives the England position only. For Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, check the relevant national regime.

How HMO licensing works in England

HMO licensing is devolved. This tool answers for England only; Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland run separate regimes with different thresholds and registration duties. Because additional and selective schemes are set locally, the position can differ street by street.

Mandatory licensing

Applies to any HMO occupied by five or more people forming two or more households sharing amenities such as a kitchen or bathroom. It is set nationally and a council cannot opt out of it.

Additional licensing

Extends licensing to smaller HMOs, typically three or four occupants in two or more households, within a defined area. It is designated by the local authority, must be formally made, and is time-limited.

Selective licensing

Applies to all privately rented properties in a designated area, not just HMOs. It is also a local scheme, must be formally designated, and is time-limited. This tool identifies the responsible council from the postcode and shows any schemes recorded in our data — the definitive source is always the named local authority.

Frequently asked questions

What is an HMO?

A house in multiple occupation (HMO) is a property let to at least three people who form more than one household and share facilities such as a kitchen, bathroom or toilet. A household is a single person or members of the same family living together.

When does mandatory HMO licensing apply in England?

Mandatory licensing applies to an HMO occupied by five or more people forming two or more separate households, regardless of the number of storeys. It is set nationally, so every council in England operates it.

What is the difference between mandatory, additional and selective licensing?

Mandatory licensing is national and covers larger HMOs. Additional licensing is a local scheme a council can designate to extend licensing to smaller HMOs in a defined area. Selective licensing is also local but covers all privately rented homes in a designated area, not just HMOs. Local schemes must be formally designated and are time-limited.

Can licensing requirements vary by street?

Yes. Additional and selective schemes can cover a whole council area or only specific wards or streets, so two properties under the same council can sit under different requirements. Check the designated area on the council's own scheme documents.

What should I do if no local scheme data is available?

Treat it as unknown, not as confirmation that no scheme exists. Mandatory licensing still applies to qualifying HMOs. Use the council's official licensing pages, or the GOV.UK HMO licence service, to confirm whether additional or selective licensing covers the property.

How often should I recheck the council position?

Recheck before acquiring, letting or changing the occupancy of a property, and at least every six months for properties you manage. Councils can consult on, introduce, renew or end local schemes, and designations normally last no more than five years.

Official guidance

Guidance last reviewed 13 October 2026. Council lookup by postcodes.io using ONS data.

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