Additional HMO licensing in Coventry
Yes. Coventry operates an additional HMO licensing scheme. Letting a covered property without a licence risks a civil penalty of up to £40,000 and a rent repayment order of up to two years' rent.
Common questions
Do I need an additional HMO licence in Coventry?
Yes. Coventry operates an additional HMO licensing scheme. Letting a covered property without a licence risks a civil penalty of up to £40,000 and a rent repayment order of up to two years' rent.
Which areas of Coventry does the scheme cover?
City-wide. HMOs occupied by 3 or 4 occupiers and certain s.257 HMOs. Designation made 7 October 2024. Confirm a specific address against the council's own designation map before applying.
When does Coventry's scheme end?
The designation runs until 3 May 2030, unless the council revokes it earlier under section 84 of the Housing Act 2004.
What does the licence cost?
£944. Councils commonly discount for accredited landlords and early applications; confirm the current figure with Coventry before budgeting.
Paid in two parts — one on application, the balance before the licence is issued.
| Stage 1 | £716 |
| Stage 2 | £228 |
| Total | £944 |
Coventry — coventry.gov.uk, read 19 Aug 2026
What the designation says
Coventry operates a city-wide additional HMO licensing scheme. The current (renewed) scheme designation was made on 7 October 2024, came into force on 4 May 2025 and runs until 3 May 2030 (5 years). It applies to any HMO occupied by 3 or 4 occupiers irrespective of storeys, plus section 257 HMOs that are mainly or wholly tenanted (with limited exemptions for two-flat blocks not above commercial premises and where the building shares no internal/external common parts and is no more than two storeys). The original city-wide scheme ran from 4 May 2020 to 3 May 2025 and resulted in around 11,598 licence conditions added and approximately £1.6m of investment in HMO improvements. Licence fees range from £820 to £2,070 depending on eligibility. Coventry Landlord Accreditation Scheme (CLAS) is a free voluntary scheme.
What this means for a landlord
A licence must be in place before the property is let, not applied for afterwards. Operating unlicensed in a designated area is a criminal offence: a civil penalty of up to £40,000 per offence and a rent repayment order of up to two years' rent. Both maxima apply to conduct on or after 1 May 2026; before that date they were £30,000 and twelve months. Section 21 was abolished on 1 May 2026 and possession now runs through the amended section 8 grounds. Mandatory HMO licensing applies separately and everywhere, wherever a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households.
Information tool, not legal advice. Confirm the position with Coventry before letting.