Apply for a licence
Complete our online form to apply for a selective licence.
Fees
Payment will be required electronically once your application has been approved.
Legislation
To understand the legislation involved with this licence. Read the schedule 4 of the Housing Act 2004
Application process
Check if your property needs a selective licence.
Applications will be processed within six weeks. If you have not heard from us in this time, you should not assume a licence has been granted.
If your property is a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) with five or more unrelated occupiers, check whether you need to apply for a Mandatory HMO licence instead.
If we refuse your application for a licence
The consequences of refusing to grant a licence are serious for both the landlord and us.
As we would have a duty to take on the management of the property by making an Interim Management Order (IMO). If granted the IMO would last up to a year until suitable arrangements are put in to place. If this takes longer, we can apply for a Final Management Order (FMO), which if granted can last up to five years. However a full option appraisal will be carried out before any decision to refuse to grant a licence is made and the making of a management order should be regarded as a last resort.
Where a proposed licence holder or manager is assessed as being not ‘fit and proper’, we will work with that person wherever possible with a view to agreeing an alternative person who is fit and proper.
Making an appeal
You may appeal if we decide to:
- refuse a licence
- grant a licence with conditions
- revoke a licence
- vary a licence
- refuse to vary a licence.
Appeals should be made to the Residential Property Tribunal, normally within 28 days. The Tribunal will also hear appeals regarding any enforcement notices that the Council may serve.