A-Z of Services

Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO)

What is an HMO?
HMO Licensing
HMO Licensing Application Form
Prescribed Standards for Licensed HMOs
Exempt properties
List of Licensed HMOs

What is an HMO?

Under the Housing Act 2004 an HMO is:

an entire house or flat occupied by three or more tenants who form two or more households and who share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet
a house that has been converted into bedsits or other non-self-contained accommodation and occupied by three or more tenants, forming two or more households and sharing a kitchen, bathroom or toilet
a converted house which contains one or more flats which are not wholly self-contained and which is occupied by three or more tenants occupying two or more households
a building converted entirely into self-contained flats where less than two thirds are in owner occupation and where the conversion did not comply with the 1991 Building Regulations
In all the above cases the property must be occupied as the tenants’ only or main residence

HMO Licensing

Mandatory Licensing

The Housing Act 2004 provides for the mandatory licensing of certain HMOs.

Generally an HMO will need a mandatory licence if it is:

Shared by five or more people and
Has three or more storeys (including basements, attics and commercial units

Additional licensing

The Wrexham County Borough Council Additional Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation Scheme 2011 started on the 1 November 2011.

The scheme will cover all HMOs except those subject to Mandatory Licensing or exempt under the relevant sections of the Housing Act 2004.

Landlords, persons letting/ managing and tenants are advised to seek advice from the Housing Standards team on whether their property is covered by the scheme.

Public Notice in respect of the introduction of an additional licensing scheme for houses in multiple occupation in the County Borough of Wrexham

Applying for a License

See the License Application Fees

EU Services Directive - House in multiple occupation (HMO) licence

Apply for a house in multiple occupation licence (external link to http://business.wales.gov.uk)

HMO Licensing Application Form

This application form is available to download in the following formats:

HMO Licensing Application Form - Online version

HMO Licensing Application Form - Word version 506Kb

HMO Licensing Application Form - PDF version 374Kb

HMO Licensing Application Form - Plain Text version 1.0Mb

To view and print PDF files, you must have Adobe® Acrobat® Reader installed.

Link on the Adobe logo to download the software.

Adobe Acrobat documents can be converted back to plain text using Accessible Adobe® Reader.

To view and print Microsoft Word files, you must either have Microsoft Word installed on your computer, or you can download free Microsoft Word Viewer software.

Link on the logo to download the software

Prescribed Standards for Licensed HMOs

Category A1 - Bedsits

Category A1 - Bedsits - Word version 250Kb

Category A1 - Bedsits - PDF version 120Kb

Category A2 - Bedsit-type HMO (Kitchen and bathroom facilities shared)

Category A2 - Bedsit-type HMO (Kitchen and bathroom facilities shared) - Word version 280Kb

Category A2 - Bedsit-type HMO (Kitchen and bathroom facilities shared) - PDF version 123Kb

Category B - Shared House

Category B - Shared House - Word version 265Kb

Category B - Shared House - PDF version 117Kb

Catgory F - Section 257 Flats

Catgory F - Section 257 Flats - Word version 258Kb

Catgory F - Section 257 Flats - PDF version 113Kb

Exempt properties

Some types of buildings are exempt from licensing, these include:

properties managed or owned by a public body (such as the police or the NHS), a local authority or a Registered Social Landlord
resident landlord and up to 2 other persons
buildings entirely occupied by freeholders or long leaseholders.

The Welsh Assembly Government (external link) has produced guides for HMO licensing, including:

For further information or advice contact Housing Standards.

Guidance Notes

These documents are available to download in the following formats:

Guidance Note 1 - Additional Licensing in Wrexham - Word version 56Kb

Guidance Note 1 - Additional Licensing in Wrexham - PDF version 70Kb

Guidance Note 1 - Additional Licensing in Wrexham - Plain Text version 70Kb

List of Licensed HMOs

List of Licensed HMOs (Current to 10 January 2012) - PDF version 12Kb

To view and print PDF files, you must have Adobe® Acrobat® Reader installed.

Link on the Adobe logo to download the software.

Adobe Acrobat documents can be converted back to plain text using Accessible Adobe® Reader.

To view and print Microsoft Word files, you must either have Microsoft Word installed on your computer, or you can download free Microsoft Word Viewer software.

Link on the logo to download the software

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