What the three types of property licence are, where we have licensing schemes running, and the standards and conditions of each licence.
There are three types of private property licences:
- mandatory house in multiple occupation (HMO) licence
- additional HMO licence
- selective licence
Terms used
What an HMO is
Your property is a house in multiple occupation (HMO) if both of the following apply:
- at least 3 tenants live there, forming more than 1 household
- there are shared facilities such as toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities
What a household is
A household is a separate individual, co-habiting couple or a family. A family includes parents, grandparents, children (including foster children, stepchildren and children being cared for), grandchildren, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces or cousins.
For example, five friends are five households, even if they share a tenancy, and a co-habiting couple and a friend would constitute two households.
Property inspections
We inspect all registered properties at least once within the licence period (usually 5 years) to check they comply with the standards and conditions. The inspection will involve an officer visiting the property and conducting several checks.
Mandatory HMO licence
You need a mandatory HMO licence if you're renting out a house or flat that has:
- five or more people from two or more households
- shared toilets, bathrooms or cooking facilities
Additional HMO licence
Additional licensing applies to HMOs in areas of the city where we've declared additional licensing schemes.
It applies to privately rented flats or houses, where 3 or 4 people live in 2 or more households and share some basic facilities.
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 6th August 2029, you will be required to apply to renew your licence under the citywide additional licensing scheme when your current licence expires.
Selective licence
Selective licensing applies to non-HMO properties in areas of the city where we've declared selective licensing schemes.
Our Additional and Selective Licensing Schemes
Additional HMO licensing scheme: Citywide
A new licensing scheme came into effect on 6 August 2024 and most privately rented HMOs will need an additional licence except those Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) already covered by mandatory licensing or covered by an existing additional licensing scheme.
Declaration for the citywide additional licensing scheme
Selective licensing scheme: Bishopston and Ashley Down, Cotham, and Easton
A new licensing scheme came into effect on 6 August 2024 and most privately rented properties will need to be licensed in these wards except those Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) already covered by mandatory licensing or the citywide additional licensing scheme (above).
If you have previously had a selective licence in the Easton ward of the city, you will need to apply for a new selective licence under this scheme.
Declaration for the Bishopston and Ashley Down, Cotham, and Easton selective licensing scheme
Additional HMO licensing scheme and selective licensing scheme: Bedminster and Brislington West wards
A new licensing scheme came into effect on 6 April 2022 and most privately rented properties will need to be licensed in these wards except those Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) already covered by mandatory licensing.
In Bedminster and Brislington West wards, additional and selective licensing will apply.
Additional HMO licensing scheme: Horfield ward
A new licensing scheme came into effect on 6 April 2022 and most privately rented HMOs will need to be licensed in these wards except those Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) already covered by mandatory licensing.
pdf Declaration for the Bedminster, Brislington West and Horfield schemes(122 KB)