Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)

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Norwich City Council is committed to ensuring safe, high-quality housing for everyone. We're updating our policy for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) to improve housing standards, strengthen enforcement and promote responsible rental property management.

This consultation is important for anyone involved with HMOs in Norwich including landlords, letting agents and tenants living in shared houses, bedsits or flats. This is your chance to help shape the final policy and ensure it works for everyone.

What is an HMO and who needs an HMO licence?

A House in Multiple Occupation is a property rented by five or more unrelated tenants. You need an HMO license if your property is occupied by five or more people, houses individuals from two or more separate households or has shared facilities such as kitchens or bathrooms.

What's changing?

For a quick overview of these changes, please read our summary document or download the full proposed policy. We're proposing several key changes to the HMO licensing system including:

  • Fees will be simplified with a new two-stage structure, making costs clearer and fairer.
  • Safety will be enhanced through annual gas safety checks, five-yearly electrical inspections, and regular checks on emergency escape lighting, alongside clearer occupancy limits to prevent overcrowding.
  • Waste management will be improved with stricter rules requiring landlords to comply with council collection schemes and secure trade waste agreements.
  • Landlord responsibilities will be clarified with increased inspections, stronger enforcement against non-compliant landlords, and clearer guidance, including a "fit and proper person" test and detailed information on fire safety and licence conditions.

Have your say

Complete our short, online survey to share your thoughts or any questions you have.

We'll also be holding future focus groups with landlords. If you'd like to participate, please email us at: hmo@norwich.gov.uk

The consultation will be open from Monday 10 February until Monday 24 March 2025.

Norwich City Council is committed to ensuring safe, high-quality housing for everyone. We're updating our policy for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) to improve housing standards, strengthen enforcement and promote responsible rental property management.

This consultation is important for anyone involved with HMOs in Norwich including landlords, letting agents and tenants living in shared houses, bedsits or flats. This is your chance to help shape the final policy and ensure it works for everyone.

What is an HMO and who needs an HMO licence?

A House in Multiple Occupation is a property rented by five or more unrelated tenants. You need an HMO license if your property is occupied by five or more people, houses individuals from two or more separate households or has shared facilities such as kitchens or bathrooms.

What's changing?

For a quick overview of these changes, please read our summary document or download the full proposed policy. We're proposing several key changes to the HMO licensing system including:

  • Fees will be simplified with a new two-stage structure, making costs clearer and fairer.
  • Safety will be enhanced through annual gas safety checks, five-yearly electrical inspections, and regular checks on emergency escape lighting, alongside clearer occupancy limits to prevent overcrowding.
  • Waste management will be improved with stricter rules requiring landlords to comply with council collection schemes and secure trade waste agreements.
  • Landlord responsibilities will be clarified with increased inspections, stronger enforcement against non-compliant landlords, and clearer guidance, including a "fit and proper person" test and detailed information on fire safety and licence conditions.

Have your say

Complete our short, online survey to share your thoughts or any questions you have.

We'll also be holding future focus groups with landlords. If you'd like to participate, please email us at: hmo@norwich.gov.uk

The consultation will be open from Monday 10 February until Monday 24 March 2025.

Page last updated: 10 Feb 2025, 03:44 PM