An HMO is a house or flat that is occupied as a main residence, by more than one household

In addition, houses entirely converted into self-contained flats not in strict compliance with the Building Regulations 1991, with at least one third occupied as flats on short tenancies are classed as HMOs.

To assist with working out the requirements for your individual property please view our HMO Amenity Standards. These standards are separate to the current Housing Standards as assessed by the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, which are legal requirements. Please note the HMO Amenity Standards are currently being reviewed and updated version will be located here when it is available.

The Housing and Planning Act 2016 extends mandatory HMO licensing to include additional HMOs of all storeys which meet the above criteria. Owners must apply for their HMO licences by October 2018.

Nationally, HMOs occupied by five or more people, in two or more households, where there is sharing of facilities, eg kitchen or bathroom, must be licensed. This is a mandatory government requirement.

This would include, for example, houses containing bedsits, a combination of bedsits and self-contained flats where the bedsits share facilities, and also shared houses and hostels.

If you're unsure of the status of your property, please contact the Community Protection Team using the contact details on this page.

You can search the register of licensed HMOs in Shropshire using our Online Licensing Register.

New requirements for a fire risk assessment since 1 October 2023:

Applies to the Responsible Person for any building regulated (including HMOs).

You must:

• Record the Fire Risk assessment (FRA) in full (including all the findings) and the fire safety arrangements for your premises in all circumstances.  
• Make available as much information as possible about fire safety in your premises. This new requirement replaces the previous requirement to record only the significant findings of the risk assessment and removes previous limitations.
• If you employ a Fire Risk Assessor to assist you in completing a fire risk assessment, you should record their name, and where applicable, their organisation name.
• You are responsible for ensuring that your fire risk assessment is suitable and sufficient and if you employ someone to do this for you, you need to ensure they are competent to do so. 
• You will be required to supply a copy of the Fire Risk Assessment to Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service and Shropshire Council upon request. A copy of the Fire Risk Assessment must be provided when applying for an HMO Licence.
• A fire risk assessment is a working document that requires continuous reviewing.

The following guidance provides what fire safety requirements are expected within HMOs. HMOs generally within Shropshire fall into the classification on Page 43. ‘Bedsit-type HMOs’ Lacors Fire Safety Guide.

You must consult with Building Control when making any alterations/installation of Fire Safety measures within a HMO to determine if Building Regulations application and approval is required.

Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service provides further information and guidance, including fire risk assessment templates.

• Laws and regulations
• Specific risk assessment templates and log book

If you are unsure or would like further advice, please contact us.

Certain types of property are exempt from licensing, and these include:

• Local authority-owned properties, whether freehold or leasehold
• Properties owned or managed by public bodies, such as registered social landlords, health service bodies or police authorities
• Properties regulated by other legislation, for instance care homes, children's homes and bail houses

If you'd like to apply for an HMO licence, please complete the application form and return it to us along with the required documents.

Payment can be made online (select the 'House in Multiple Occupation' option from the list), or you can call 0345 678 9067 to make a card payment.

The cost is £1200 up to and including five units, and a further £170 per each additional unit thereafter.

Please see our guidance notes on completing the HMO licence application form, and also our licensing procedure to view how the process works. Should you require further information please contact the Housing Enforcement Team – details are below.

New licence conditions will be introduced by the Licensing of HMOs (Mandatory Conditions of Licenses)(England) Regulations 2018:

• To regulate the size and use of rooms as sleeping accommodation in licensed HMOs
• To require the licence holder to comply with their local authority scheme for the provision of facilities for the proper disposal and storage of domestic refuse

Additionally Shropshire Council are requiring:

• Criminal record certificates to be provided in connection with applications for licences under the Housing Act 2004 (must have been issued in the past three years)
• Carbon Monoxide Detectors in rooms where there is a solid fuel or gas appliance