Renew, vary or revoke a HMO licence

If you already have a HMO licence, you can renew, vary or cancel it.  

Renew a licence

A HMO Licence lasts for a fixed term of not more than five years, and a new licence must be applied for and a new fee paid before the old licence expires.

The application form is the same as for a first licence except that you do not have to complete all the sections (see the guidance notes), provided that you submit the application form before the expiry date of the old licence. Applications submitted after the expiry date are not renewals but treated as a fresh application.

The form and guidance notes can be found on our How to apply for a HMO licence page.

Vary a licence

You can apply to vary your HMO licence. You will need to do this, for example, if you want to increase the number of occupiers and/or households.

To apply to vary a licence, email privatehousing@merton.gov.uk.

Selling a property

You cannot change the licence holder details on an existing licence. If you are selling the property and it will remain a licensable HMO, the licence cannot be transferred.

You must firstly revoke the current licence and the new owner must submit a HMO licence application for this property immediately on completion of the sale.

Revoke a licence

You can apply to revoke a HMO licence if the property no longer requires a mandatory licence, for example:

• The property is now occupied by a single family
• The number of occupiers is less than five
• The property is to be sold and you are no longer the relevant person to hold the licence

To apply to revoke a licence, email privatehousing@merton.gov.uk.