HMO licensing in Chichester

Chichester 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 £1,505.73. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.

2026/27 fee schedule (HMO Licensing Fees 2026-2027, published by Chichester District Council): Part 1 initial application fee (5-person base) £1,013.03, payable at time of application; Part 2 licence issue fee £492.70, payable prior to the full licence being issued. Each additional occupant above five adds £65.92 to Part 1. A separate Licence Amendment Fee of £56.48 applies if the licence needs to be amended. The council's fee document does not set out a distinct discounted renewal rate or an accredited-landlord discount, so renewalGbp is left null rather than assumed equal to totalGbp.

Check the current fee on the council website (chichester.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.

• Grade A (electrically operated, interlinked smoke/heat detectors with control panel) systems are generally required in larger properties occupied as bedsits/self-contained flats; Grade D (mains-powered interlinked smoke/heat alarms, no control panel) systems are required in smaller shared houses, per BS 5839 Parts 1 and 6.
• A maintenance logbook must be kept on site showing annual and periodic fire alarm tests in accordance with BS 5839.
• Floor/ceiling separation between units of accommodation should provide 30 minutes' fire resistance (60 minutes in high-risk areas such as basements or mixed commercial/residential buildings).
• Basements/cellars require 30-minute fire-resisting separation from the rest of the house, with a 30-minute fire door at the top and bottom of basement stairs.
• Where fitted, emergency lighting must be tested and logged in accordance with BS 5266.
• 'Inner rooms' (bedrooms with escape only through another room) should be avoided; emergency escape windows may be used to mitigate risk where unavoidable.
• All soft furnishings supplied by the landlord must meet fire-resistance requirements.

• 1-4 occupants: minimum 1 bathroom and 1 WC (may be combined), with a wash hand basin in all bathrooms and separate WCs.
• 5 occupants: 1 bathroom AND 1 separate WC with wash hand basin (the WC can be within a second bathroom).
• 6-10 occupants: a wash hand basin in each bedroom where practical, plus 2 bathrooms AND 2 separate WCs with wash hand basins (1 WC may be within 1 bathroom).
• 11-15 occupants: a wash hand basin in each bedroom where practical, plus 3 bathrooms AND 3 separate WCs with wash hand basins (2 WCs may be within 2 bathrooms).
• Kitchen sinks: 1 per up to 5 occupiers, then 1 per 4 occupiers (or part thereof) for 6-10 people.
• Cookers: 1 appliance (4-ring hob, oven and grill) for up to 5 occupiers, then 1 per 4 occupiers (or part thereof) for 6-10 people.
• Refrigerator: minimum 75-litre capacity with a minimum 110-litre freezer for up to 5 occupiers, increased proportionately for more occupants.
• Kitchen extractor fan: minimum 60 litres/second mechanical ventilation to outside air (or 30 litres/second if sited adjacent to the hob), in addition to any windows.
• A 'light duty' fire blanket complying with BS 6575 must be provided in every kitchen, wall-mounted near the room exit.

• A4 sketch plan of each floor — Showing the address, room use/number, detector and fire-equipment locations, fire doors, escape windows and approximate room sizes in square metres.
• Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) — From a competent electrician, dated within the last 5 years.
• Gas Safety certificate(s) — For all appliances, carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer, dated within the last 12 months.
• PAT (portable appliance test) report — For any appliances supplied by the landlord, if applicable.
• BS5839 fire detection system test report — Dated within the last 12 months.
• BS5266 emergency lighting test report — If emergency lighting is fitted.
• Fire risk assessment — Covering means of escape and fire precautions for the property.
• Copy of tenancy agreement — A sample or current tenancy agreement for the property.
• Planning/building control information — If applicable; HMOs for 7+ persons may require planning permission.

• chichester.gov.uk
• chichester.gov.uk
• chichester.gov.uk

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