Landlord licensing in Hastings Borough Council

Council-specific HMO detail we currently show

Mandatory licensing for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) across the entire Hastings Borough. As of 1 October 2018, any HMO (Section 254 of the Housing Act 2004) occupied by five or more persons who form two or more separate households and who share basic amenities (kitchen, bathroom or toilet) requires a mandatory licence. The 3-storey height requirement was removed from 1 October 2018, significantly expanding coverage to include single-storey and two-storey qualifying HMOs. The council introduced an Article 4 Direction in 2012 requiring planning permission for change of use or a certificate of lawful use for HMOs in which 2 or more households share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet.

HMO fee guide

£1,262

Fee notes

Fees are based on the number of letting units (not duration) with a 10% uplift per additional tier of five units. The same fee applies to both new applications and renewals. Split into two parts: Part 1 is due on application (covers application processing); Part 2 is only payable if the licence is granted (covers processing and administration). If the licence is refused, the Part 2 fee does not become payable. Current fee schedule: Up to 5 units: £1,262 (Part 1: £638 / Part 2: £624); 6-10 units: £1,388; 11-15 units: £1,514; 16-20 units: £1,640; 21-25 units: £1,766; 25-30 units: £1,892. Online payments are temporarily unavailable; the council invoices applicants for both fee parts. The fee structure was significantly revised from the 2018 rates (which had not been changed since introduction); the new rates are based on property size rather than licence duration. No accreditation discounts mentioned. The fee structure does not appear to include early renewal or accreditation-based reductions.

Typical licence term

Maximum 5 years; properties meeting relevant standards with valid certifications typically receive full 5-year licences; shorter licences may be issued due to planning permission issues or management/property condition concerns

Start date shown

1 April 2006

Mandatory HMO licensing commenced April 2006 under Part 2 of the Housing Act 2004. The 3-storey height requirement was removed from 1 October 2018, significantly expanding coverage. Minimum bedroom room sizes were introduced alongside the 2018 changes. An Article 4 Direction was introduced by Hastings Borough Council in 2012 requiring planning permission or a certificate of lawful use for HMOs with shared amenities. Applications are currently processed via three separate Microsoft Office 365 forms (Part 1: Control, Management and Ownership; Part 2: Property Details; Part 3: Fitness and Suitability) while a new integrated application system is being developed. Documents and certifications should be submitted by email to licensingrentedproperty@hastings.gov.uk during the system transition. The council is also working on moving the HMO licence register to their online public registers system. Previous fees (since 2018) were based on licence duration (1, 3 or 5-year options); the new fee structure, implemented after a review, is based on number of letting units. Property types covered: Section 254 HMOs with five or more persons forming two or more separate households sharing basic amenities. Includes properties meeting the Standard Test, Self-Contained Flat Test, Converted Building Test. Section 257 HMOs (converted blocks of flats where conversion did not meet building standards and fewer than two-thirds are owner-occupied) are excluded. Exemptions or exclusions: Section 257 HMOs (converted blocks of flats) are excluded from mandatory licensing. Properties with fewer than five occupants or fewer than two households are not subject to mandatory licensing.