Check if you need a property licence and apply

Before you start

You need a separate licence for each rented property.

Licences are issued for a period of up to 5 years.

To fill in the form, you'll need:

• to read through this web page first
• an email address
• around 20 minutes to complete the form
• mortgage company details
• names, addresses and contact details of the owners, managing agents or anyone else with a legal interest in the property
• property details like the number and type of rooms
• details of other licence holders
• details of other properties you have a licence for in the UK
• payment card details to pay the part one fee

New licensing schemes

On Tuesday 6 August 2024, two new licensing schemes came into effect:

1. A citywide Additional licensing scheme for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
2. A Selective licensing scheme covering most other privately rented properties in the Bishopston and Ashley Down, Cotham and Easton wards.

Additional licensing

Additional licensing includes a house or flat that is occupied by 3 or 4 unrelated people who live together and share some facilities including kitchens and/or bathrooms.

Selective licensing

Selective licensing includes private rented properties that are occupied by one or two tenants, or a family, but are not HMOs.

When to submit an application

Full details of the designations can be found in the HMO Public Notice.

When you must have a licence

You must have a licence if you're a private landlord, or managing agent, of:

• shared accommodation that's defined as a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) anywhere in Bristol in which 5 or more people live (mandatory licensing scheme)
• an HMO in which 3 or 4 people live anywhere in Bristol (citywide additional licencing scheme) from 6 August 2024, or in Bedminster, Brislington West or Horfield wards (additional licensing scheme) from 6 April 2022, see blue and pink areas of map
• privately rented properties in Bedminster and Brislington West wards, including properties let to one or 2 people or families (selective licensing scheme), see pink areas of map
• privately rented properties in Bishopston and Ashley Down, Cotham, or Easton wards, including properties let to one or 2 people or families (selective licensing scheme), see green areas of map 

An HMO is a property that is shared by 3 or more people, who share some facilities like kitchens or bathrooms.

If you have a mandatory licence you do not also need an Additional HMO licence. 

If you have an Additional HMO licence for another scheme you do not need to reapply under the new scheme until your current licence expires. Only one licence is required per licensable property.

If you're the landlord of a newly rented property you have 28 days to apply from when the property was occupied.

When to apply to renew your licence

Additional licence

You must apply to renew your licence under the citywide additional licensing scheme when your current licence expires if:

• you have an existing additional HMO licence, or have previously had an additional licence, for a property anywhere in the City which has expired, or expires, before 6 August 2029

Selective licence

You must apply for a new selective licence under the Bishopton and Ashley Down, Cotham, and Easton selective licensing scheme if:

• you have previously had a selective licence in the Easton ward of the city

Check if you need a licence

If you're not sure if you need a licence, fill in the first part of the online application form below and we'll work it out. 

If you need a licence you can continue to the rest of the form. 

Temporary Exemption from licensing

If you intend to take steps to make your property no longer licensable, you can apply for a temporary exemption notice (TEN). 

If granted, the property will not be required to be licensed for a period of three months from the date that the TEN is served. 

If a request is received for a second TEN and there are exceptional circumstances, we may grant a second and final TEN for a further 3-month period.

A TEN may be granted, for example where:

• a section 21 notice has been served to terminate a tenancy;
• the property is sold subject to contract;
• tenants have given notice of their intention to vacate the property.

Registered providers

If you're a registered provider of social housing and own or manage houses in multiple occupation you may not need a licence. The GOV.UK website has a list of registered providers.

Planning permission

In certain areas of the city, you will need to have planning permission to use your property as an HMO.  

Article 4 directions are in place which remove permitted development rights.  You may need to submit a planning application for change of use between a dwelling house (Use Class C3) and a small House in Multiple Occupation (Use Class C4).

When determining a property licence application (Mandatory,Additional, Selective) under Part 2 and Part 3 Housing Act 2004, planning consent status does not affect your application.

When you submit the application you must confirm that:

• you've made the appropriate checks that anybody involved in the property agrees to the  document fit and proper person declaration(65 KB)
• anybody involved in the property agrees to the legal declarations and doesn't have unspent criminal convictions

Apply