HMO licensing in Castle Point

Castle Point Borough 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.

Castle Point Borough Council does not publish a single figure we could confirm. Fees are set by the council and reviewed each year, so check its fees page.

Castle Point's Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Policy 2026-2029 confirms that the HMO licence fee is 'reviewed annually and form[s] part of the published fees and charges each year', but the council's published Licensing Fees & Charges schedule (1 April 2025 - 31 March 2026) only covers Licensing Act 2003, gambling, scrap metal, street trading and taxi licensing - it does not list a specific HMO fee figure. No itemised HMO application or renewal fee could be found on the council's website, so the fee fields below are left blank rather than estimated. Landlords should contact Environmental Health (eh@castlepoint.gov.uk / 01268 882200) for the current amount.

Check the current fee on the council website (castlepoint.gov.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.

• A fire risk assessment is required, to be reviewed at least annually or sooner after significant changes, renovations, a change in occupancy, or a fire incident.
• A current fire alarm test certificate (less than 12 months old) and, where 3+ storeys or a difficult layout require it, a current emergency lighting certificate, must be provided with the application.
• The council imposes the mandatory conditions under the Housing Act 2004 plus the higher standards set out in the Essex HMO Amenity Standards.

• Kitchen, bathroom and toilet facility ratios follow the Essex HMO Amenity Standards (e.g. shared kitchen minimum 7 sqm for up to 5 occupants, rising with occupancy; bathroom/WC ratios scale with the number of sharers).
• Every HMO must have a scaled floor plan showing room sizes, fire doors, fire equipment, smoke detectors, stairs, the consumer unit and boiler location.
• Landlords and managers must pass a 'fit and proper person' test under section 66 of the Housing Act 2004, including a basic DBS disclosure for the named property manager.

• Scaled floor plan — Showing all rooms and sizes, fire doors/equipment, smoke detectors, stairs, consumer unit and boiler location.
• Gas safety certificate — Landlords' Gas Safety Certificate, less than 12 months old.
• EICR — Current satisfactory Electrical Installation Condition Report.
• PAT certificate — Current Portable Appliance Test certificate for landlord-owned electrical appliances over 12 months old.
• Fire alarm test certificate — Less than 12 months old, unless installed in the last 12 months and shown on the EICR.
• Emergency lighting certificate — Required if the property has 3+ storeys or a difficult layout; less than 12 months old.
• Fire risk assessment — Reviewed at least annually or after significant changes to the property or occupancy.
• Interested-party contact details — Up-to-date contact details for joint owners, mortgage provider, managing agent and any HM Land Registry charge holders.

• castlepoint.gov.uk
• castlepoint.gov.uk
• castlepoint.gov.uk
• castlepoint.gov.uk

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