North West
HMO licensing in Cheshire West and Chester
Cheshire West and Chester 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 West and Chester (checked September 2026). The published licence fee starts at £786.
Mandatory licence
5+ people, 2+ households
National scheme
Additional / selective
None in force
Mandatory licensing only
Licence fee
From £786
Decision time
About 8 weeks
The council's stated aim
Licensing schemes in Cheshire West and Chester
Cheshire West and Chester 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 £786. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.
New HMO licence fees are set by the number of habitable rooms (bedrooms and living rooms; kitchens, bathrooms and outhouses are excluded from the count): £786 for up to 6 rooms, £832 for 7 rooms, £879 for 8 rooms, £925 for 9 rooms, and £968 for 10 or more rooms. Landlords accredited under the Cheshire Landlord Accreditation Scheme (CLAS) receive a 10% reduction on these fees. The council's fees page does not separately publish a renewal fee or an instalment option, so these are treated as unpublished rather than assumed equal to the new-licence fee.
Check the current fee on the council website (cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk) before you apply.
Minimum room sizes
| Single bedroom | 6.51 m² minimum floor area. |
|---|---|
| Double bedroom (combined bedroom/living room, separate kitchen) | 10.5 m² minimum floor area. |
| Combined bedroom/living room/kitchen (single) | 10.5 m² minimum floor area (double occupancy also 10.5 m² per the council's published table). |
| Living room | 15 m² minimum floor area. |
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
- A written fire risk assessment and appropriate fire detection/means of escape are required, consistent with the Housing Act 2004 licensing conditions.
- Gas safety and electrical safety (EICR) certification is required as a condition of the licence.
- Circulation spaces (hallways, landings), kitchens, bathrooms and cellars/roof spaces cannot be used as sleeping or living accommodation.
Kitchen, bathroom and amenity standards
- Bathroom/WC provision follows a sharing ratio: up to 4 persons sharing needs 1 full suite (bath/shower, WHB, WC); 5 persons needs 1 full suite plus a separate WC with WHB; 6-9 persons needs 2 full suites; 10 persons needs 2 full suites plus 2 separate WCs; 11-14 persons needs 3 full suites. A ratio of one bath/shower to every 5 persons sharing is required.
- All units of accommodation, kitchens, living rooms, halls, landings and bathrooms must have a fixed form of heating capable of reaching 21°C when it is -1°C outside; whole-house heating is preferred and TRVs are required where applicable.
- No room may be occupied by more than two persons, and unrelated people may only share a room with the council's consent.
- Where the property has an EPC, it must meet the current minimum rating criteria to be granted a licence.
Documents you will need
- 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, per the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020.
- EPC — Valid Energy Performance Certificate meeting the council's current minimum rating criteria.
Sources
- cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
- cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
- cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
- cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
Compiled from the council’s own published pages and documents; data reviewed September 2026. Rules and fees change, so always confirm with Cheshire West and Chester Council before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.