Number of HMO Licences in Force
type: Dataset
conforms to: http://mlcommons.org/croissant/1.0
contact point: ContactPoint
date modified: 2026-08-13T10:49:58.338569
date published: 2026-08-13T10:48:28.488830
description: Numbers of properties with an HMO licence in force at 31st of March. The mandatory licensing scheme for houses in multiple occupation came into force on 1 October 2001. Information on the scheme can be found on the Scottish Government's [website](http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2004/07/19734/40899). More information on types of HMO licences in operation and on applications for licensing is also [available](http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/HSfS/HMO). Unpublished data on licence fees and property sizes is also available on request.
accuracy: Figures are sourced from management information systems therefore there no sampling error or confidence interval that would affect the accuracy of the results, although there may be a small amount of error associated with non-response and subsequent estimation. Licenses in force will exclude withdrawn applications and include applications refused and subsequently appealed. They also exclude licences which are currently in the process of being renewed. Statistics include estimates based upon previous data due to outstanding returns.
comment: Number of House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Licences in force at 31 March.
completeness: The HMO data is collected as part of the Housing Statistics Annual Return form which is sent to all Local Authorities. The data collected asks local authorities to give the figures of Total HMO Licences in Force at March 31st of each year. Licenses in force will exclude withdrawn applications and include applications refused and subsequently appealed. They also exclude licences which are currently in the process of being renewed.
confidentiality: Information on council stock is collected at an aggregate level. Sensitive or confidential information relating to individual houses or people is not collected.
consistency: There are no alternative known comparable data sources for Scotland.
geographical coverage: S92
geographical coverage: S12
license id: uk-ogl
next update: 2025-01-01
quality management: Data collected ib Number of HMO Licences in Force is sourced directly from the 32 Local Authorities in Scotland. There is no sampling involved in this data collection. In the event of non-response from a Local Authority, an estimate can be made either based on previous returns or on alternative information sources. Information provided by Local Authorities is extracted from Management Information Systems. We expect this information to be of good quality as it is used in the day to day housing management as well as for reporting purposes. We also expect the systems to have some built quality assurance. Information on the Number of HMO Licences in Force by Local Authorities is considered to be of good quality, as this information is crucial to the management of Number of HMO Licences in each local authority. Scottish Government statisticians carry out quality assurance of data provided from each Local Authority prior to publication. In particular figures are compared to those provided in previous years. Where there appears to be a discrepancy this is queried with the local authority and, if necessary, changes are made either to the latest year's data or to that for earlier years in order to ensure consistency.
reference period: PeriodOfTime
  end date: 2023
  start date: 2001
timeliness: Tables are published on the [Scottish Government Housing Statistics website](https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration) as soon as possible once data collection, data processing and preparation of tables and publication material is complete, generally in September each year. The open data platform will be updated as soon as possible after publication.
uniqueness: Not assessed
update frequency: annual
validity: The annual HMO return was introduced in order to monitor the mandatory licensing scheme for houses in multiple occupation that came into force on 1 October 2001.
will be updated: true
included in data catalog: CKAN
keywords: Housing
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
record set: records

Scottish Government
type: Organization
contact point: ContactPoint
  contact type: customer service

GeographyCode
type: Field
data type: Text
source:
  extract:
    column: GeographyCode

hmo-licences.csv
type: FileObject
description: Data file for Number of HMO Licences in Force
comment: Number of House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Licences in force at 31 March.
dictionary: Column
  column: GeographyCode
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: Units
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: Measurement
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: GeographyName
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: GeographyType
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: DateCode
  type: int
dictionary: Column
  column: Value
  type: int
encoding format: CSV

Measurement
type: Field
data type: Text
source:
  extract:
    column: Measurement

Units
type: Field
data type: Text
source:
  extract:
    column: Units

DateCode
type: Field
data type: Integer
source:
  extract:
    column: DateCode

Value
type: Field
data type: Integer
source:
  extract:
    column: Value

GeographyType
type: Field
data type: Text
source:
  extract:
    column: GeographyType

GeographyName
type: Field
data type: Text
source:
  extract:
    column: GeographyName