You can apply for a temporary exemption notice (TEN) if:
- you are the property owner, landlord or manager, and
- you don’t have a necessary licence for your property, and
- the property will cease to be a licensable property within three months
This is an alternative to applying for a licence.
A TEN suspends the requirement for a licence for three months. This allows you time to take steps to change the way the property is occupied – for example, where you are seeking planning permission to convert a house in multiple occupation (HMO) into a single-family dwelling, or the property has been put up for sale.
In unusual circumstances we may extend the exemption once for a further three months. The second notice must commence from the end of the first notice. After that, we can’t extend the exemption further and the property will need to be licensed.
There is no fee for a temporary exemption.
Before you apply
You will need to have the following information ready:
- address of property requiring a temporary exemption
- your name, address, email address and telephone number
- your role in relation to the property e.g. owner, agent.
- a full explanation and evidence as to why this property is valid for a temporary exemption from the licensing scheme
- supporting documents such as court correspondence in relation to occupants that have departed legally, evidence of vacant possession or sale of property
Apply now
Apply for a temporary exemption notice
What happens next
We will tell you whether your application was successful.
If we refuse your application
If we decide not to issue a TEN, then you must apply for a licence.
We will tell you why we refused your application and explain how you can appeal against the decision.
You may appeal to the First-Tier Tribunal within 28 days. The First-Tier Tribunal is an expert independent tribunal that act in the same way as the County Court to confirm, vary or overturn the council’s decision. Details of how to appeal will be included on the notice.
Temporary exemption when the licence holder has died
If the licence holder dies while the licence is in force, the licence ceases to be in force on their death. During the period of 3 months beginning with the date of the licence holders’ death, the house is to be treated as if on the date of death a temporary exemption notice had been granted.
At the end of this period, if a request is made then a second temporary exemption will be granted for 3 months. The maximum exemption period is 6 months from the date of death.
If more than 6 months have passed since the date of the licence holders’ death, then a temporary exemption is not possible and an application for a licence must be made. This needs to be from the person managing or in control – the person to whom the rent is paid.