How many councils in England have HMO licensing?

All local authorities in England enforce mandatory HMO licensing for 5+ person properties. Many also run additional or selective schemes. This directory lists 278 councils with licensing information.

Which English regions have the most licensed HMOs?

London and major metropolitan areas typically have the highest numbers. This directory shows 195,500 licensed HMOs across England where register data is available.

Do London boroughs have different HMO rules?

Yes. Each of the 32 London boroughs plus the City of London sets its own fees, additional licensing boundaries, and selective licensing schemes. Always check your specific borough council.

HMO Licensing in England

Select a region to browse 278 councils with HMO licensing information.

278 councils

195,500 licensed HMOs

1 with additional licensing

1 with selective licensing

What are the HMO licensing requirements in England?

England has 278 local authorities responsible for HMO licensing. Mandatory licensing applies where a property has five or more people forming two or more households who share facilities.

195,500 licensed HMOs are recorded in published registers. 1 council operate additional licensing. 1 council operate selective licensing across England.

Select a region below to browse councils — London has 33 authorities; other regions include the South East, West Midlands, and North West.

Source: Housing Act 2004 and England council HMO licensing pages.

Unsure if your property needs a licence? Try the HMO licence checker.

Reviewed by AgentHMO Editorial Team · Data sourced from council registers

Additional vs mandatory licensing →

Which regions in England have HMO licensing?

London

33 councils · 154,334 licensed HMOs · 1 additional licensing · 1 selective licensing

South East

64 councils · 10,420 licensed HMOs

East of England

47 councils · 9,213 licensed HMOs

South West

27 councils · 9,660 licensed HMOs

West Midlands

29 councils · 3,294 licensed HMOs

East Midlands

33 councils · 5,061 licensed HMOs

North West

36 councils · 3,011 licensed HMOs

North East

9 councils · 507 licensed HMOs

Common questions about HMO licensing in England

How many councils in England have HMO licensing?: All local authorities in England enforce mandatory HMO licensing for 5+ person properties. Many also run additional or selective schemes. This directory lists 278 councils with licensing information.
Which English regions have the most licensed HMOs?: London and major metropolitan areas typically have the highest numbers. This directory shows 195,500 licensed HMOs across England where register data is available.
Do London boroughs have different HMO rules?: Yes. Each of the 32 London boroughs plus the City of London sets its own fees, additional licensing boundaries, and selective licensing schemes. Always check your specific borough council.

Summary

Councils278

Licensed HMOs195,500

Additional licensing1

Selective licensing1