Vary a HMO licence
A HMO licence is usually valid for 5 years, although some licences are issued for a shorter period.
While your licence is valid, you must tell us if:
- there are significant changes to the HMO, such as changes to the property or occupancy (this is known as a variation)
- the licence is no longer needed.
If you're not sure whether a change is significant and if you need to request a variation, email hmo@medway.gov.uk with details of the change.
Request a HMO licence variation
You must tell us if there has been significant changes to your HMO property or how it is managed by requesting a licence variation.
This includes changes to:
- the number of people allowed to live in the property (for example if you have added an extension that allows for more rooms)
- the layout of the property
- the number of facilities (for example if you increase the number of bathrooms)
- the condition of facilities (for example if you upgrade bathrooms or kitchens)
- who manages the property
- to the licence holder's contact details or address.
If the number of tenants falls below 5, you may no longer need an HMO licence and should ask us to cancel it. Find out about HMO cancellations
You cannot use a variation to change the licence holder. If the licence holder has changed, a new HMO licence application must be submitted.
How to request a HMO licence variation
To request a licence variation, you'll need:
- the licence reference number
- details of the changes you want to make
- plans or drawings showing any changes to the property (if applicable)
- details of the new property manager, if this has changed
- the updated licence holder's contact details, if these have changed.
A licence variation costs £202.99.
We'll request the fee through a payment link after we approve the variation. The fee covers administration costs, including updating and reissuing the licence and any inspection visits.
Request a HMO licence variation
After you've submitted your variation request
We'll usually review your request within 14 days. If your changes are complex, this may take longer.
If you're changing the number of occupants or the property's facilities, we'll check:
- whether the property still meets HMO licensing standards
- how significant the changes are.
We may contact you for more information or arrange an inspection.
Once we've completed our review, we'll write to the licence holder and all interested parties to explain the proposed changes.
Comments and objections can be submitted to us within 14 days using the instructions on the letter.
We'll consider any comments or objections before making a final decision.
If your variation request is approved
If we approve your request, we'll update your licence and issue a new version.
The new licence replaces your current licence and will keep the same expiry date.
Within 7 days of our decision, we'll send the licence holder and any interested parties:
- a notice confirming the change
- a copy of our decision and the reasons for it.
If your variation request is refused
If we refuse your request, we'll write to you and any interested parties within 7 days of our decision. We'll explain our reasons for refusal.
If you disagree with our decision, you can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber). Details of how to appeal will be included in our letter.
If we cannot vary your licence
We'll contact you if we cannot process your licence variation because the changes:
- require a new HMO licence application
- are not significant enough to need a licence variation, so you can continue using your current licence.
If we apply a variation to your licence
We may vary your licence ourselves if we discover changes to the property or its management that have not been reported to us.
If you disagree with our decision, you can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber).