East of England
HMO licensing in Colchester
Colchester City 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 Colchester (checked September 2026). The published licence fee starts at £1,110 (£1,000 to renew).
Mandatory licence
5+ people, 2+ households
National scheme
Additional / selective
None in force
Mandatory licensing only
Licence fee
From £1,110
Renewal £1,000
Decision time
Not published
Licensing schemes in Colchester
Colchester City 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 £1,110, and £1,000 to renew. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.
New HMO licence application fee for a 5 bedroom/letting-room property is £1,110 total, paid in two parts: £525 on submission of the application and the £525 balance once the decision to issue a licence is made. Each additional letting room/bedroom above 5 costs £75. Renewal of a licence for a 5 bedroom/letting-room property costs £1,000 total, paid as £475 on submission and £475 on the decision to issue, with the same £75 per additional room above 5. An optional floor-plan preparation service is available for £445 (5 units) plus £65 per additional room, with amendments charged at £190/hour.
Check the current fee on the council website (new.colchester.gov.uk) before you apply.
Minimum room sizes
| Bedroom/letting room, 1 occupant, HMO with shared kitchen/dining/living | 6.51 m² minimum. |
|---|---|
| Bedroom/letting room, 2 occupants, HMO with shared kitchen/dining/living | 10.22 m² minimum. |
| Bedroom/letting room, 1 occupant, HMO with shared kitchen only (no shared living room) | 8.5 m² minimum. |
| Bedroom/letting room, 2 occupants, HMO with shared kitchen only | 12 m² minimum. |
| Bedroom/letting room, 1 occupant, bedsit with kitchen facilities in the room | 11 m² minimum. |
| Bedroom/letting room, 2 occupants, bedsit with kitchen facilities in the room | 15 m² minimum. |
| Notes | From 1 October 2018, national legislation sets the absolute minimum sleeping-room floor area at 10.22 m² for 2 people over 10, 6.51 m² for 1 person over 10, and 4.64 m² for 1 child under 10 (a room under 4.64 m² cannot be used for sleeping). Colchester applies the Essex HMO Amenity Standards (Essex-wide guidance, last revised November 2022), shown above, which meet or exceed the national minimum. Source: Essex HMO Amenity Standards, Table 1. |
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
- Fire safety is assessed with reference to LACORS Housing – Fire Safety Guidance, in consultation with Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, based on the property's storeys and type.
- A written fire risk assessment is required for all HMOs and shared buildings, except those occupied by a single cohesive group of sharers under one tenancy (Essex HMO Amenity Standards, Table 5).
- Suitable fire detection and alarm provision, emergency lighting and a safe means of escape must be provided, appropriate to the property layout.
Kitchen, bathroom and amenity standards
- Kitchen area: 7 m² minimum for up to 5 sharers, rising to 8.5 m² for 6, 10 m² for 7, and 14 m² (or two 7 m² rooms) for 8-10 sharers, per the Essex HMO Amenity Standards.
- Bathrooms/WCs: 1 bathroom and 1 WC for fewer than 5 sharers (can be combined); at 5 sharers the WC must be in a separate room from the bathroom; 2 bathrooms and 2 WCs for 6-8 sharers (for 6-9 occupants at least one WC must be separate); at 9-10 sharers one WC must be in a fully separate room with its own wash-hand basin.
- Heating must maintain 21°C in living/sleeping rooms, 22°C in bathrooms and 18°C elsewhere when it is -1°C outside; portable paraffin, oil-fired or bottled gas (LPG) heaters are prohibited.
- Minimum electrical socket provision: 2 double sockets in shared-house bedrooms, 3 double sockets in a bedsit with separate kitchen, 5 double sockets in a bedsit/studio containing its own kitchen; shared kitchens need at least 3 double sockets above worktops.
- Natural lighting equivalent to at least 1/10 of a habitable room's floor area, and ventilation (openable window) equivalent to at least 1/20 of the floor area.
- Adequate, hygienic waste disposal arrangements must be provided and must comply with the local authority's storage and waste scheme where one exists.
Documents you will need
- Supporting documents — As specified in the council's HMO application guidance (gas safety, electrical safety and related certificates).
- Floor plan — Required with every application; the council offers a paid floor-plan preparation service if needed.
Sources
Compiled from the council’s own published pages and documents; data reviewed September 2026. Rules and fees change, so always confirm with Colchester City Council before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.