North West
HMO licensing in Cheshire East
Cheshire East 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 Cheshire East (checked September 2026). The published licence fee starts at £1,076 (£861 to renew).
Mandatory licence
5+ people, 2+ households
National scheme
Additional / selective
None in force
Mandatory licensing only
Licence fee
From £1,076
Renewal £861
Decision time
Not published
Licensing schemes in Cheshire East
Cheshire East 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 £1,076, and £861 to renew. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.
Fees quoted are for licence applications received between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027, and a licence lasts for up to 5 years. First-time licence fees: £1,076 for 5-6 units, £1,142 for 7-12 units, £1,236 for 13-20 units, £1,315 for 21+ units. Renewal fees are lower: £861 for 5-6 units, £913 for 7-12 units, £966 for 13-20 units, £1,026 for 21+ units. A £100 surcharge applies to manual (non-online) applications, and a £126 charge applies for an advice visit or aborted appointment. No instalment scheme or accreditation discount is published on the council's own fees page.
Check the current fee on the council website (cheshireeast.gov.uk) before you apply.
Minimum room sizes
| Under 6.51 m² | Cannot be used as sleeping accommodation. |
|---|---|
| Single occupant (6.51–10.21 m²) | Suitable for one adult sleeping there. |
| Two occupants (10.22 m² or more) | Required minimum for a room occupied by two adults, per the national HMO space standards Cheshire East applies. |
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
- HMOs must comply with the LACORS Fire Safety Guide, as referenced on the council's fire safety guidance pages.
- A current gas safety certificate and electrical safety (EICR) documentation are required as licence conditions.
- National mandatory licence conditions apply, including working smoke alarms and a fire risk assessment appropriate to the property's layout and occupancy.
Kitchen, bathroom and amenity standards
- Kitchen, bathroom and WC provision must be adequate and in good working order for the number of permitted occupants, as set out in the council's HMO Amenities Guide for Landlords and Agents.
- Specific council kitchen/bathroom sharing ratios are published in Cheshire East's amenity guidance document rather than the main HMO web page; landlords should consult that guide directly before applying.
- Facilities must be maintained in good working order throughout the licence period as a condition of the licence.
Documents you will need
- HMO Application Checklist — Cheshire East's own supporting-documents checklist, required for all first-time HMO licence applications.
- Gas safety certificate (CP12) — Current certificate for all gas appliances, renewed annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
- EICR — Electrical Installation Condition Report for the property, dated within the last five years.
- EPC — Valid Energy Performance Certificate for the property.
Sources
Compiled from the council’s own published pages and documents; data reviewed September 2026. Rules and fees change, so always confirm with Cheshire East Council before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.