Houses in multiple occupation (HMO)

Additional Licensing Scheme consultation

We consulted on proposals to introduce HMO Additional Licensing in Westminster. The consultation closed on 18 February 2021 and the scheme was approved at a full council  meeting on 21 April 2021. 

View a summary of the consultation responses:

We would like to thank everyone who submitted a response during this process.

Additional Licensing Scheme proposals

Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) are shared homes, including houses and flat shares, student homes, bedsits and some buildings converted into flats.

Westminster has the largest private rented sector in England, and is home to a diverse mix of people, families and communities. 

We want to ensure that all rented Westminster housing meets high standards of maintenance and is run professionally.

By introducing an Additional Licensing Scheme, we aim to improve conditions in the private rented sector, create sustainable tenancies with empowered tenants and reputable landlords.

This scheme is part of the wider private rented sector strategy.  Additional Licensing Scheme was widely backed by respondents to the private rented sector strategy consultation in Autumn 2020.

 

Additional licensing scheme designation

The HMO additional licensing designation will cease to have effect on 30 August 2026. The date of 31 August 2026 stated in the public notice of the designation was in error.

Following a review of the impact of Covid-19 on Westminster’s economy, on 1 October 2021 the council withdrew the requirement for s.257 HMOs to be licensed under our Additional Licensing Scheme. S.257 HMOs are buildings which have been fully converted into self-contained flats with no shared facilities. All other HMO’s including flats and houses with three or more people sharing continue to require a licence.