HMO, additional and selective property licensing
On 25 October 2023, Luton Council made a designation (The Luton Borough Council Designation of an area for Selective Licensing 2023) to introduce a selective licensing scheme in the Town Centre and Park Town and a designation (The Luton Borough Council Designation of an Area for Additional Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation 2023) to introduce an additional licensing scheme in the whole town.
The schemes were due to come into force on 5 February 2024 and Luton Council ('the council') herby gives notice that the implementation has been deferred following receipt of a legal challenge and a court order requiring the implementation of the schemes to be stayed pending a further decision from the court.
Please note: the ‘early bird’ fee of £150 has been extended to end on 5 May 2024.
Important message about licence renewals
We've recently moved to a new platform called ‘Metastreet’ for licence applications. The historical data on our previous platform has not yet been migrated over, so when applying for a renewal, please use the ‘new application’ tab. Future renewals will be available on the’ renew’ tab.
Mandatory HMO licensing
The mandatory HMO licensing scheme continues. You'll need a licence if you own or manage a property anywhere in Luton and it is occupied by five or more persons, forming two or more households who share common amenities like a bathroom or kitchen.
Please visit our HMO page with advice for landlords and how to apply
Additional licensing
Additional licensing will now come into force on 5 February 2024 and applies to all areas of Luton. The mandatory HMO licensing scheme continues. However the additional licensing scheme means that you'll also require a licence if:
- you own or manage a property anywhere in Luton and:
- it's occupied by three or four persons
- it forms two or more households who share common amenities like a bathroom or kitchen
Find out more about additional licensing
Selective licensing
The selective licensing scheme will now come into force on 5 February 2024 and applies to the town centre and Park Town areas of Luton.
When the scheme is in force, having control of or managing a property let as residential accommodation without a licence shall be a criminal offence:
- liable to prosecution
- upon summary, conviction liable to a fine of an unlimited amount