North West
HMO licensing in Bury
Bury Council requires a mandatory licence for HMOs occupied by 5 or more people from 2 or more households. No additional or selective licensing scheme is currently in force in Bury (checked September 2026). The published licence fee starts at £686.
Mandatory licence
5+ people, 2+ households
National scheme
Additional / selective
None in force
Mandatory licensing only
Licence fee
From £686
Decision time
Not published
Licensing schemes in Bury
Bury 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.
Licence fees
The published fee for a new HMO licence is £686. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.
The standard mandatory HMO licence fee covers a property with up to 5 occupants/letting units at £685.50, with a further £29.00 charged for each additional letting unit above 5. Landlords submitting multiple HMO applications together receive a £66.00 discount. Where a property already holds a valid licence and only the named licence holder is changing (no fresh inspection required), a reduced £100.00 fee applies. The council's published guidance does not set out a separate instalment schedule or a distinct renewal fee, so the licence is generally paid as a single fee at application; landlords should confirm current-year figures with the council as fees are reviewed annually. A separate £48 fee applies to obtain a copy of the HMO public register.
Check the current fee on the council website (bury.gov.uk) before you apply.
Minimum room sizes
| Double/triple bedroom (2 persons, over 10 years old) | 10.22 m² minimum floor area — national statutory minimum under The Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (Mandatory Conditions of Licences) (England) Regulations 2018, applied by Bury Council as its published guidance references meeting 'required minimum standards for the number of persons in occupation' without publishing different figures of its own. |
|---|---|
| Single bedroom (1 person, over 10 years old) | 6.51 m² minimum floor area — national statutory minimum, applied by Bury Council. |
| Bedroom occupied by a child under 10 | 4.64 m² minimum floor area — national statutory minimum, applied by Bury Council. |
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.
Fire safety requirements
- Applicants must provide details of the fire safety precautions in place at the property as part of the licence application.
- The property must meet the fire safety standards set out in Bury Council's HMO licensing conditions document, issued alongside every licence granted.
Kitchen, bathroom and amenity standards
- The property must meet the council's required minimum standards for the number of persons in occupation, covering kitchen, bathroom and toilet facilities.
- Applicants must confirm gas and electrical safety arrangements are in place and provide details of the property's condition and facilities as part of the application.
Documents you will need
- Gas safety certificate (CP12) — Current gas safety record for every gas appliance, renewed annually, as referenced in the licence application requirements.
- EICR — Electrical Installation Condition Report confirming the property's electrical installation is safe.
- EPC — Valid Energy Performance Certificate for the property.
- Basic DBS check — A basic DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check dated within the last three months, required for both the property manager and the proposed licence holder.
Sources
Compiled from the council’s own published pages and documents; data reviewed September 2026. Rules and fees change, so always confirm with Bury Council before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.