HMO, additional and selective property licensing
The council have now received a judgment from the Court of Appeal in connection with the claimant’s appeal of the judgment of the High Court that refused them permission to bring a claim for judicial review in respect of the Selective and Additional Licencing schemes.
The Court of Appeal has upheld the decision of the High Court and so the claimant does not have permission to bring a claim for judicial review.
The Court of Appeal held that the claimant did not have standing to bring the claim and that the grounds were unarguable.
The stay on implementing the schemes has been lifted and permission to appeal to the Supreme Court was refused by the Court of Appeal.
However, the claimant has until 26 February 2026 to make an application to the Supreme Court for permission to appeal the decision of the Court of Appeal which may alter the position.
We are now taking steps to introduce the Selective and Additional licencing schemes and further announcements will be made in due course.
The following pdf is a statutory public notice that we are required to publish on our website but will only come into force if and when this is agreed by the court.
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 apply 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 apply 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
Private Sector Housing Enforcement 1st Floor Annexe Town Hall, Luton, LU1 2BQ
[email protected]