HMO licensing in Bracknell Forest

Bracknell Forest Council operates the national mandatory scheme. We found no additional or selective licensing scheme in force or proposed as of September 2026. Councils can introduce one after a public consultation, so it is worth setting an alert.

The published fee for a new HMO licence is £1,480, and £999 to renew. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.

HMO licensing for Bracknell Forest is delivered by the Public Protection Partnership (PPP). The PPP 'Fees and Charges 2026/2027' document (fees effective from 1 April 2026; it states the PPP provides chargeable services on behalf of Bracknell Forest Council and West Berkshire Council) lists in its Private Sector Housing section: 'HMO Licence NEW - assisted application' £1,480 = Stage 1 £888 + Stage 2 £592; 'HMO Licence RENEWAL' £999 = Stage 1 £600 + Stage 2 £399. The same schedule applies in West Berkshire (see west-berkshire.json). Only one new and one renewal tier are published: no occupant/bedroom scaling and no accredited-landlord discount are listed, so the fee appears to be flat. The PPP HMO web page does not quote a figure and only says the fee is reviewed annually and points to the fees and charges document. The two-stage split is how the fee is structured; the document does not describe it as an instalment plan or say when each stage is payable, so instalments is null.

Check the current fee on the council website (publicprotectionpartnership.org.uk) before you apply.

National minimums for licensed HMOs are 6.51 m² for one adult and 10.22 m² for two adults; councils can apply higher local standards.

• The PPP states that its 'HMO Licensable Guidance' should be read together with the HHSRS Guidance for Landlords and Property Related Professionals and the LACORS 'Housing - Fire Safety' guidance, so national HHSRS/LACORS standards apply; no separate fire-safety table was retrieved.
• A fire risk assessment is a required item for an application to be duly made.
• A valid fire alarm testing certificate and/or a declaration of regular check/maintenance is required.
• A valid emergency lighting certificate is required where applicable.
• The PPP publishes a Statement of Principles under the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 covering enforcement and penalties.

• The mandatory licence conditions in SI 2018/616 apply nationally (minimum room sizes, and the requirement for a licence holder to comply with the conditions).

• Fully completed application form — Signed and dated; the PPP page says the application is completed online (via GOV.UK) and the form is one of the items required for it to be accepted as duly made.
• Licence fee payment — Payment of the HMO application fee is required for the application to be duly made. From 1 April 2026 the published fee is £1,480 (new) or £999 (renewal), in two stages.
• Floor plan — A floor plan of the property is required.
• Fire risk assessment — Required as part of a duly made application.
• Photo ID — Passport and/or UK driving licence.
• Proof of address — Two recent utility bills for the licence holder and the manager.
• Electrical installation safety certificate (EICR) — A valid electrical installation safety certificate.
• Gas safety certificate — A valid gas safety certificate, if applicable.
• Fire alarm testing certificate — A valid fire alarm testing certificate and/or a declaration of regular check/maintenance.
• Portable Appliance Test (PAT) certificate — A valid PAT certificate.
• Emergency lighting certificate — Required if applicable.
• DBS checks — The PPP page says applicants 'may have to carry out' an enhanced DBS check and a Basic DBS check; it is not stated as universally mandatory.

• publicprotectionpartnership.org.uk
• bracknell-forest.gov.uk
• publicprotectionpartnership.org.uk
• decisionmaking.westberks.gov.uk

Compiled from the council’s own published pages and documents; data reviewed September 2026. Rules and fees change, so always confirm with Bracknell Forest Council before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.