What are the HMO licence requirements in Watford?

Mandatory licensing applies where a property is occupied as an HMO and meets the threshold for England — typically five or more people forming two or more households who share facilities. You must meet management, fire safety, amenity, and room-size conditions as part of the application. Use our HMO licence checker for a first pass, then confirm with the council before letting or purchasing.

Does Watford have additional or selective licensing?

Watford is listed as operating mandatory HMO licensing only. Additional or selective schemes can be introduced later; the council must consult before designating new areas. Check the official HMO licensing section on the council website for any announcements.

How do I apply for an HMO licence in Watford?

Applications are made directly to Watford, not through AgentHMO. You will usually need property details, floor plans, fire-risk information, and details of the licence holder or manager. Pay the council fee at application or as instructed — the key figures table shows the published mandatory fee where we have it, but always confirm the latest amount on the council site. Allow several weeks to months for processing, especially for new licences or properties that need works to meet conditions.

Borough Council

HMO Licensing in Watford

329 licensed HMOs

£1,143 typical fee

MandatoryAdditionalSelective

Browse all 329 licensed HMOs, check licence requirements, and access official application links for Watford Borough Council in East of England. Typical licence cost: £1,143.

No payment today · or apply direct on the council website

Watford

Council website

What are the HMO licensing requirements in Watford?

Watford Borough Council requires an HMO licence where a property has five or more people forming two or more households who share facilities. Watford currently operates mandatory HMO licensing only. Additional or selective schemes may be introduced later after consultation.

329 licensed HMOs are in our imported register. The mandatory licence fee is £1,143.

Analysis of the imported register shows median occupancy of 6.0 people and typical building height of 3.0 storeys across licensed properties in Watford.

Mandatory licences in England normally run for five years from issue. You must renew before expiry — operating without a valid licence can lead to unlimited fines and rent repayment orders.

Source: Housing Act 2004 and Watford Borough 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 · Last reviewed 1 Jun 2026

Licensed HMO Statistics

Metric	Value	Context
Registered HMOs	329	Imported register
Register last updated	Jun 2026	Council register update date
Mandatory licence cost	£1,143	Council fee
Mandatory licence length	5 years	From issue
Median occupants	6.0	Typical occupancy
Median storeys	3.0	Typical building height
Largest recorded HMO	38	Max occupants
Tallest recorded HMO	5	Max storeys

Typical all-in cost: £1,742 (£599 + £1,143 council).

Licence schemes

Scheme	Description	This council
Mandatory	5+ people, 2+ households	Required by law
Additional	Smaller HMOs (e.g. 3–4 people)	No
Selective	All private rentals in an area	No

Additional and selective schemes derived from register data where available. Confirm with the council.

Ready to apply?

Where can I search licensed HMOs in Watford?

Search licensed properties in Watford from the council's public register. Register last updated Jun 2026. View the council's official register

Fields published by the council (10 of 14)

AddressPostcodeLicence typeLicence noMax occupantsStoreysIssue dateExpiry dateRegister update dateLicencee name

Property search

329 licensed HMOs in the register

Address	Postcode	Licence No	Expiry	Units
1 Clifton Road Watford	WD18 0DH	22/00341/HMO	2 Nov 2027	6
1 Francis Road Watford Hertfordshire	WD18 0QE	22/00395/HMO	2 Sep 2027	8
1 Maytree Crescent Watford	WD24 5NJ	24/00557/HMO	8 May 2029	6
1 Nascot Road Watford	—	22/00963/HMO	1 Mar 2027	9
1 Oxford Street Watford Hertfordshire	WD18 0ES	21/00507/HMO	14 Sep 2026	6
1 The Coppice Watford	WD19 4HR	23/01074/HMO	19 Dec 2028	6
1 The Gateway Watford	WD18 7HW	23/00629/HMO	19 Jul 2028	6
10 Burton Avenue Watford Hertfordshire	WD18 7NQ	22/00379/HMO	21 Jun 2027	8
10 Firbank Drive Watford Hertfordshire	WD19 4EL	24/01594/HMO	7 Jul 2030	5
100 Leavesden Road Watford	WD24 5EH	22/01076/HMO	7 Jun 2028	6
100 Princes Avenue Watford	WD18 7RS	22/00089/HMO	23 Mar 2027	6
102 Kensington Avenue Watford	WD18 7RY	26/00072/HMO	16 Mar 2031	6
104 Meriden Way Watford	WD25 9DQ	23/01106/HMO	26 Sep 2029	9
107 Sandringham Road Watford	WD24 7FQ	23/00956/HMO	14 Dec 2028	6
107 Vicarage Road Watford	WD18 0EY	23/01126/HMO	31 Oct 2028	5
11 Ebury Road Watford Hertfordshire	WD17 2RE	21/00892/HMO	19 Jan 2027	5
11 Marlborough Road Watford	WD18 0QD	22/00397/HMO	31 Aug 2027	8
11 Princes Avenue Watford	WD18 7RR	23/00045/HMO	24 Apr 2028	6
11 Wellington Road Watford	WD17 1QU	23/01057/HMO	28 Feb 2029	11
11 Whippendell Road Watford	WD18 7LY	22/00332/HMO	5 Sep 2028	6

Showing 1–50 of 329

Register map

Geocoded properties from the register. Click a marker for address and licence details.

HMO map loads when this section is visible.

Frequently asked questions about HMO licensing in Watford

What are the HMO licence requirements in Watford?: Mandatory licensing applies where a property is occupied as an HMO and meets the threshold for England — typically five or more people forming two or more households who share facilities. You must meet management, fire safety, amenity, and room-size conditions as part of the application. Use our HMO licence checker for a first pass, then confirm with the council before letting or purchasing.
Does Watford have additional or selective licensing?: Watford is listed as operating mandatory HMO licensing only. Additional or selective schemes can be introduced later; the council must consult before designating new areas. Check the official HMO licensing section on the council website for any announcements.
Where can I search licensed HMOs in Watford?: Use the searchable register on this page to filter by address, postcode, or licence reference where published. The map below the table plots geocoded properties so you can explore by area. Data is imported from the council's public register and refreshed periodically — see the key figures table for how current the extract is. For legal confirmation on a specific property, cross-check the council's official register link above the table.
How do I apply for an HMO licence in Watford?: Applications are made directly to Watford, not through AgentHMO. You will usually need property details, floor plans, fire-risk information, and details of the licence holder or manager. Pay the council fee at application or as instructed — the key figures table shows the published mandatory fee where we have it, but always confirm the latest amount on the council site. Allow several weeks to months for processing, especially for new licences or properties that need works to meet conditions.

How do I contact Watford about HMO licensing?

Office address

Watford

Town Hall Hempstead Road Watford, Hertfordshire, WD17 3EX

East of England, England

Licensing enquiries

enquiries@watford.gov.uk

01923 226400

Council online

Watford website

Location map

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Nearby councils

Other East of England authorities with HMO licensing pages on AgentHMO.

Need an HMO licence?

From £1,742 typical — we handle the application for Watford.

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