Introduction
Part 2 of the Housing Act 2004 requires the council, as the local housing authority for Thanet, to operate a mandatory licensing regime for certain types of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). The mandatory scheme came into force in April 2006 and was introduced to improve the physical conditions and management standards in higher risk residential accommodation.
The mandatory licensing regime previously only applied to certain HMOs consisting of three or more storeys and occupied by five or more persons. On 01 October 2018, the exemption for one and two-storey HMOs was removed. Therefore, all relevant HMOs occupied by five or more persons are licensable, irrespective of how many storeys there are in the building.
Section 63 of the Housing Act 2004 empowers the council to make charges for carrying out their HMO licensing functions. The council reviews these charges every year, and the charges which apply from 01 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 are set out below.
Standard Licence Application Fees
Standard licence application fees are payable in respect of new licence applications and renewal applications made within six weeks of the expiry date of an existing licence.
|
Application Fee
(Part 1 Fee) |
Compliance Fee
(Part 2 Fee) |
Total Combined Fee |
|
All Landlords |
Accredited Landlords |
Non- accredited Landlords |
Accredited Landlords |
Non- accredited Landlords |
HMOs which contain 2 to 8 units of accommodation |
£822 |
£329 |
£529 |
£1,151 plus £40 per additional unit over 8 |
£1,351 plus £40 per additional unit over 8 |
Further fee for each additional unit of accommodation |
£40 |
£0 |
£0 |
Early Renewal Licence Application Fees
Early renewal licence applications made at least six weeks before the expiry of an existing licence are subject to a reduced fee structure. Renewal applications not made at least six weeks before the expiry of an existing licence are subject to the “Standard Licence Application Fees” structure set out above.
|
Application Fee
(Part 1 Fee) |
Compliance Fee
(Part 2 Fee) |
Total Combined Fee |
|
All Landlords |
Accredited Landlords |
Non- accredited Landlords |
Accredited Landlords |
Non- accredited Landlords |
HMOs which contain 2 to 8 units of accommodation |
£678 |
£329 |
£529 |
£1,007 plus £40 per additional unit over 8 |
£1,207 plus £40 per additional unit over 8 |
Further fee for each additional unit of accommodation |
£40 |
£0 |
£0 |
When fees are payable
The Application Fee is payable on application. Any application made without the appropriate Application Fee being paid will be invalid and will not be processed. Once the council has assessed a valid application and decided that a licence can be proposed, it will make contact with the applicant and request payment of the Compliance Fee. The council will not issue a licence without payment of the Compliance Fee. If the Compliance Fee is not paid within an acceptable timescale, the application will be deemed withdrawn and the Application Fee will not be refunded.
Landlord accreditation
For the purposes of mandatory HMO licensing, an accredited landlord is a landlord who is fully accredited with either of the following:
- Kent Landlord Accreditation Scheme (KLAS), which is delivered through the Accreditation & Training for Landlords & Agents Service (ATLAS); or
- National Residential Landlords Association Accreditation Scheme (NRLA Accreditation).
Withdrawal of licence application
Fees are non-refundable. If you make an HMO licence application and then decide to withdraw it at a later date, no part of the licence fee paid is refundable.
Applications to vary an HMO licence
If you want to change the terms of an HMO licence after it has been issued, you will need to make an application to vary the licence. There is no charge for making an application to vary a licence.
Have you moved?
If you or your named manager change address after the licence has been issued, you must notify the council. This is a legal requirement: you will breach the terms of your licence if you don’t tell us. There is no charge for changes of address.
Non-transferability of licences
All licences are non-transferable (see section 68(6) of the Housing Act 2004). As such, no licence can be varied to change the licence holder. If the licence holder is to be changed, a wholly new licence application must be made and the appropriate licence fee paid.
Early revocation
If the council agrees to the early revocation of an HMO licence, no pro-rata rebate of the licence application fee is refundable.
Help and advice
If you would like help with any aspect of the application process, the Private Sector Housing Team will be able to assist you. Please ring us on 01843 577437 and one of our officers will be happy to help. We can also be contacted by email on: housing.licensing@thanet.gov.uk. Alternatively, you can write to us at: Private Sector Housing, Thanet District Council, PO Box 9, Cecil Street, Margate, Kent CT9 1XZ.
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