How to Apply for an HMO Licence in Tower Hamlets: Portal Walkthrough

Tower Hamlets accepts online and postal property licence applications. Online applications go through the council's portal; postal applications cost more and follow the same process. The portal itself has pitfalls that aren't obvious until you're halfway through, including a 90-day draft deletion timer that erases everything if you don't complete submission in time.

Before You Start the Portal

Gather every document first. The portal doesn't let you save a partial application indefinitely, and incomplete submissions attract charges (£112.50–£157.50 per missing document). You need:

• Gas Safety Certificate (current, from a Gas Safe registered engineer)
• EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report, valid within 5 years, no C1 or C2 defects)
• EPC (Energy Performance Certificate, minimum Grade E or registered exemption)
• Fire Risk Assessment (ideally to PAS 79 standard)
• Scaled floor plans (metric dimensions, room uses, ceiling heights, fire door locations)
• Written tenancy agreement (compliant with Renters' Rights Act 2025 periodic tenancy requirements)

If you don't have all six ready, don't create a portal draft. The 90-day clock starts when you begin the application, and the system deletes everything — property details, uploaded files, payment references — if you don't submit within that window.

The Nine Portal Steps

1. Property address lookup. Enter the property address. The portal checks it against the council's GIS data and confirms the ward location. If your address returns ambiguous or missing results, contact [email protected] for written confirmation before proceeding.

2. Scheme selection. Choose mandatory HMO (5+ occupants, 2+ households) or additional HMO (3–4 occupants, 2+ households). The portal doesn't auto-detect — you select based on your occupancy configuration.

3. Parties identification. Nominate the applicant (who completes the form), the proposed licence holder (typically the freeholder or primary leaseholder), and any managing agent. For overseas landlords, a UK-resident manager must be named.

4. Property diagnostics. Enter room measurements, structural details, number and configuration of facilities, and current occupancy counts. Be precise — the council cross-references these against your floor plans.

5. Document uploads. Attach all safety certificates, floor plans and tenancy documents. Unreadable uploads or expired certificates trigger the missing document charge.

6. Fit and proper declarations. Complete statutory disclosures covering previous convictions (fraud, dishonesty, violence, drugs, sexual offences), discrimination judgments, housing law breaches, and any involvement with properties under Management Orders. The council may request a Basic DBS certificate issued within the last 12 months.

7. Part A fee payment. Pay the processing fee online. Part A is non-refundable regardless of outcome. The application is legally "duly made" only after all required information, supporting documents and the Part A fee have been received and validated by the council.

8. Application validation. The council reviews your submission and issues a Notice of Intention (draft licence). Current processing times extend up to 12 months due to high application volumes.

9. Part B fee payment. Once you receive the Intention Notice, pay Part B to trigger final licence issuance. The licence starts from the date of grant.

The Processing Timeline

Tower Hamlets currently advises processing times of up to 12 months. During that period, your property is lawfully operating under the "duly made" application status — provided Part A was paid and all documents were submitted. This matters if a tenant or the council queries your licensing status in the interim.

Keep your application confirmation email and Part A payment receipt. These are your evidence of a valid pending application if anyone challenges your licensing position before the licence is formally granted.

The Tower Hamlets Landlord Licensing Guide provides a printable document preparation checklist so you can verify everything is ready before you create a portal draft, plus a step-by-step portal walkthrough with the specific fields and uploads required at each stage.

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