HMO licensing in Cannock Chase

Cannock Chase District 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 £1,028.55, and £985.90 to renew. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.

A new five-year HMO licence costs £1,028.55 (£653.10 application fee plus £375.45 subsistence element), collected as a single payment when you apply. The subsistence element is refunded if the application is refused. A renewal costs £985.90, also payable when you apply. Fees are from the council's 2026/27 fees and charges booklet.

Fee source: cannockchasedc.gov.uk (checked 7 October 2026). Fees change during the year, so check the council 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.

• A written Fire Risk Assessment is required for every HMO, in line with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
• Fire precaution facilities and equipment (fire doors, fire separation, detection and alarm systems) must be provided as assessed necessary, based on LACORS national fire safety guidance (July 2008), which the council adopts as its principal reference document.
• Grade D fire alarm systems must be tested weekly and detectors cleaned at least annually; Grade A systems must be tested weekly and professionally inspected/serviced at least every six months to BS 5839, with a certificate issued.
• Emergency lighting systems must be tested regularly and fully serviced annually by a competent person to BS 5266.
• Fire-fighting equipment (including fire blankets in kitchens, sited near an exit door) must be serviced annually; kitchens should have a fire door with overhead self-closer and intumescent strips where appropriate.

• Bathing/toilet facilities scale with occupancy: 1–4 people need 1 bathroom (bath/shower, WC, basin, may be combined); 5 people need 1 bathroom plus 1 separate WC with basin; 6–10 people need 2 bathrooms and 2 WCs (one separate); 11–15 people need 3 bathrooms and 3 WCs (one separate). A child under 10 in the property requires a bath (not just a shower) to be provided.
• Bathrooms/shower rooms must be inside the building, normally no more than one floor from the user, mechanically ventilated (minimum 15 litres/second extraction) in addition to any window, and have impervious, easily-cleaned wall/ceiling surfaces and slip-resistant flooring.
• Kitchen facilities scale with the number of sharers (per Cannock Chase's published table), e.g. 3 sharers need 1 cooker (min. 4-ring hob, oven, grill), 1 sink/drainer, 1 fridge-freezer (min. 150L/70L) and 1.5m worktop, rising to 3 of each appliance and 4.5m worktop for 15 sharers; general ratio is one set of kitchen amenities per 5 occupants.
• All shared kitchens require mechanical extraction ducted to the outside (minimum 60 litres/second) and a 30-litre refuse container per 5 occupants or part thereof.
• Each bedroom/bedsit must have a fixed (not portable) space heating appliance capable of maintaining 19°C internally when it is -1°C outside, controllable by the occupier; bathrooms with external walls should also normally have fixed heating.
• Landlords must ensure the property has a valid EPC of at least band E where applicable, under the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards Regulations.

• Gas safety certificate (CP12) — Valid current gas safety certificate, renewed annually, required as a condition of every HMO licence.
• EICR — Proof that electrical installations, appliances and furniture are kept in a safe condition, evidenced by a periodic electrical inspection.
• EPC — Valid Energy Performance Certificate of at least band E, in line with the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards Regulations.
• Fire Risk Assessment — A written Fire Risk Assessment for the property, following LACORS fire safety guidance, plus evidence of maintained fire alarm and fire-fighting equipment.
• Property sketch plan — Scaled sketch plan of the property showing room measurements, amenities and fire precautions, submitted with the application.
• Fit and proper person declarations — Declarations covering the proposed licence holder and manager, and management/financial arrangements for the property.

• cannockchasedc.gov.uk
• cannockchasedc.gov.uk
• cannockchasedc.gov.uk
• cannockchasedc.gov.uk
• cannockchasedc.gov.uk
• dudley.gov.uk

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