Houses in Multiple Occupation
All councils are required to have a licensing system for
Houses in Multiple Occupation. The aim is to increase the
protection for tenants and neighbours by making sure accommodation
is safe, well managed and of good quality.
House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) include shared flats and houses,
bed-sits, lodgings, communal accommodation such as student
residences and hostels.
Properties need a licence if it is the main home of three or more
residents and the residents are not members of the same
family.
It is a criminal offence to operate an HMO without a
licence. The maximum penalty is currently £5,000.
This means that if you are applying for a new HMO licence the
property may not be lawfully occupied by 3 or more unrelated people
until the licence has been granted.
* The Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of House in
Multiple Occupation) Order 2000.
How to apply
You can download an application form from the menu on the right,
along with guidance notes, site notice and compliance notice.
You can also obtain these from:
Licensing
Perth & Kinross Council
2 High Street
PERTH
PH1 5PH
civiclicensing@pkc.gov.uk
The completed application should be returned with:
- four copies of a plan of the property
- a copy of the lease/tenancy agreement in use
- Fire Risk Assessment
- Electrical Certificate
- Electrical Appliance Certificate
- GAS
SAFE Gas Safety Certificate
The floor plan can be a simple line drawing but it must be
accurate, preferably to scale. It must state the use of each
room and show the location of all windows, internal glazing, doors,
stores/cupboards, sanitary facilities, extract fans and duct
routes. If there are any timber linings to walls and ceilings
in a kitchen or hall these should be noted also.
You should also note the location of any combustible appliances,
telephone points or state the location of the nearest public
telephone, the location of any mains powered smoke or fire alarm
systems and indicate the location of electric sockets.
Copies of your application will be circulated to Tayside Police,
Tayside Fire & Rescue and three council departments -
Environment Service, Planning and Housing & Community
Care.
A representative from the HMO Licensing department will contact you
to arrange for a suitable time to inspect the property.
Site Notice
Applicants must display the site notice, which is available in the
menu to the right. The Site Notice must be displayed on or
near the property in a position where it can be easily read for a
period of 21 days from the date of application (not within the
common stair). You must return a copy of the notice to the
Licensing Department.
Tayside Police
All licence applications will be circulated to Tayside Police who
will advise the Council if you have any convictions which suggest
that you should not be granted a licence.
Any convictions whether listed on the application form or not, will
be considered.
Neighbourhood objections and complaints
Neighbours may raise an objection to a new or renewal application
should they consider the landlord or manager is not a fit and
proper person, or the premise is not suitable for use as an
HMO.
In addition, neighbours may complain at any time to the council
should they consider an existing licensed HMO:
- is causing undue public nuisance or threat to public order and
safety
- the landlord or manager is no longer a fit and proper
person
All written complaints or objections should be sent to the address
on the right.
Decision Process
HMO Applications will be considered within three months and the
Council will make a decision on the application within 12
months. The extended period is to allow applicants additional
time to obtain any permissions, or to carry out necessary work that
may be required before the licence is granted.
Applications that meet the standards and do not attract any local
objections will be granted and the licence will be sent to
you.* The Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of House
in Multiple Occupation) Order 2000. You can download an application
form from the menu on the right, along with guidance notes, site
notice and compliance notice. You can also obtain these
from: LicensingPerth & Kinross Council2 High
StreetPERTHPH1 5PHThe completed application should be returned
with: The floor plan can be a simple line drawing but it must be
accurate, preferably to scale. It must state the use of each
room and show the location of all windows, internal glazing, doors,
stores/cupboards, sanitary facilities, extract fans and duct
routes. If there are any timber linings to walls and ceilings
in a kitchen or hall these should be noted also.You should
also note the location of any combustible appliances, telephone
points or state the location of the nearest public telephone, the
location of any mains powered smoke or fire alarm systems and
indicate the location of electric sockets. Copies of your
application will be circulated to Tayside Police, Tayside Fire
& Rescue and three council departments - Environment Service,
Planning and Housing & Community Care.A representative from the
HMO Licensing department will contact you to arrange for a suitable
time to inspect the property. Applicants must display the
site notice, which is available in the menu to the right. The
Site Notice must be displayed on or near the property in a position
where it can be easily read for a period of 21 days from the date
of application (not within the common stair). You must return
a copy of the notice to the Licensing Department.All licence
applications will be circulated to Tayside Police who will advise
the Council if you have any convictions which suggest that you
should not be granted a licence.Any convictions whether listed on
the application form or not, will be considered. Neighbours may
raise an objection to a new or renewal application should they
consider the landlord or manager is not a fit and proper person, or
the premise is not suitable for use as an HMO.In addition,
neighbours may complain at any time to the council should they
consider an existing licensed HMO:
