East of England
HMO licensing in Cambridge
Cambridge City 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 Cambridge (checked September 2026). The published licence fee starts at £1,133.
Mandatory licence
5+ people, 2+ households
National scheme
Additional / selective
None in force
Mandatory licensing only
Licence fee
From £1,133
Decision time
About 6 weeks
The council's stated aim
Licensing schemes in Cambridge
Cambridge City 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 £1,133. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.
2026/27 fee schedule for applications due from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027: £736 on application and £397 on grant of licence. Renewal applications made at least eight weeks before expiry may use the reduced £603 application fee, with £397 due on grant.
Check the current fee on the council website (cambridge.gov.uk) before you apply.
Documents you will need
- Sketch plan for the property — Minimum A4, showing the layout and position of each room.
- Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) — Current and satisfactory report produced by a competent electrician.
- Landlord Gas Safe certificate(s) — Current and satisfactory certificate(s) from a Gas Safe registered engineer.
- Fire detection system certificate of inspection — Current and satisfactory certificate of inspection produced by a competent person.
- Emergency lighting test report (if applicable) — Current BS5266 test reports for the emergency lighting system, where applicable.
Sources
Compiled from the council’s own published pages and documents; data reviewed September 2026. Rules and fees change, so always confirm with Cambridge City Council before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.