Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole: mandatory HMO licensing across BCP

Mandatory licensing across BCP

BCP defines an HMO from three tenants in two or more households, but its current licensing requirement generally concerns five or more people forming two or more households and sharing facilities. The licence can last up to five years. Check the building type, occupants and facilities against the current application guidance.

Two-stage fees

A new licence costs £1,511, split between Stage 1 at £486.50 and Stage 2 at £1,024.50. Renewal is £1,391.50, split between £399 and £992.50. Properties with more than six units incur £27.50 per extra unit at Stage 2. Confirm the current schedule in the BCP HMO portal before paying.

Accreditation and refunds

BCP offers a 20% reduction where the applicant is accredited through an approved scheme and provides proof of membership; the reduction is applied at Stage 2. There is no reduced fee where the council finds the property operating without a licence. Refunds may apply to duplicate or mistaken applications in limited circumstances, but not to withdrawal, refusal, revocation, later planning refusal or ceasing to let as an HMO.

The licence does not follow a sale

A licence cannot be transferred to a new owner. Applications use the BCP HMO portal and require current floor plans, fire detection, emergency lighting, gas, electrical and fire-risk-assessment documents. Keep the submitted plan and certificates aligned with the licensed property.

Registers, reporting and TENs

BCP publishes a public HMO register and asks people to check it before reporting an unlicensed property. A reporting route is available through the Private Sector Housing team. The council also publishes a Temporary Exemption Notice form and says a temporary exemption may apply where the property will not be subject to licensing for the next three months. No BCP-specific civil-penalty amount or rent repayment order route was confirmed in the reviewed pages.

The 2022 scheme decision is historical context

A 23 March 2022 decision stopped further progression of selective and additional licensing schemes. It should not be described as a permanent legal bar on future designations, and no later replacement designation was found in the official material reviewed. Article 4 applies throughout the Bournemouth area and to Talbot Village in Poole; those planning controls are separate from licensing.

Verify current fees, accreditation, applications, register, TEN form and Article 4 areas via Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council's official pages. Illustrative guide - schemes, fees and boundaries change; general information, not legal advice.