West Midlands
HMO licensing in Coventry
Coventry City Council requires a mandatory licence for HMOs occupied by 5 or more people from 2 or more households. It also runs additional licensing, which brings smaller HMOs (typically 3 or 4 people) into licensing. The published licence fee starts at £1,571 (£937 to renew).
Mandatory licence
5+ people, 2+ households
National scheme
Additional / selective
Additional
Council-designated schemes
Licence fee
From £1,571
Renewal £937
Decision time
Not published
Licensing schemes in Coventry
City-wide additional HMO licensing (HMOs occupied by 3 or 4 people, plus section 257 HMOs that are mainly or wholly tenanted) is in force under a renewed scheme from 4 May 2025 to 3 May 2030. No further consultation is due before the next renewal.
- In force from
- 4 May 2025
- Scheme ends
- 3 May 2030
Verified 24 September 2026
Licence fees
The published fee for a new HMO licence is £1,571, and £937 to renew. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.
New mandatory HMO licence, Category B (one-year licence, new HMO not identified through Council proactive enforcement), full rate: Stage 1 £716 (on application) + Stage 2 £855 (once Council decides to grant). Fee schedule is for the period commencing 1 October 2025. Renewal (Category E, subject to criteria for two/five-year licences): £716 + £221 = £937. Longer licences (subject to criteria): two-year Cat C £716 + £400 = £1,116; five-year Cat D £716 + £228 = £944. Category A (landlord found operating unlicensed): £716 + £1,525 = £2,241.
Fee source: coventry.gov.uk (checked 2 October 2026). Fees change during the year, so check the council before you apply.
Additional and selective licence fees
Fees for council-designated schemes are set separately from the mandatory HMO fee. Figures are the standard full-rate fee for a new licence, before any discounts.
Additional licence
£944
Ranges from £944 to £2,241
Renewal £937
New application for a 5-year additional HMO licence (3-4 occupants) where the council's eligibility criteria for a 5-year licence are met; two-stage fee: Stage 1 £716 on application + Stage 2 £228 on grant. Same fees apply as for mandatory licences. Fee schedule effective 1 October 2025.
Fee depends on licence length and eligibility. Other published new-application fees: 2-year licence £1,116 (£716 + £400); standard 1-year licence £1,571 (£716 + £855) for HMOs acquired or begun operating within the previous 12 weeks, expired licences, or a change of licence holder (first-time licensees normally receive a 1-year licence); higher-rate 1-year licence £2,241 (£716 + £1,525) where the HMO was found operating unlicensed for more than 12 weeks. Renewal for the same licence length is £937 (£716 + £221). No accreditation or early-bird discount published.
Scheme: From 4 May 2025 to 3 May 2030
Checked 2 October 2026 against coventry.gov.uk
Documents you will need
- Gas safety certificate (CP12) — Within the last 12 months for every gas appliance on the property.
- EICR — Electrical Installation Condition Report, dated within the last five years.
- EPC — Valid Energy Performance Certificate for the property.
- Floor plan with room dimensions — To scale, showing every room and its floor area against the HMO minimums.
- Fire risk assessment — Current assessment of the property's means of escape, alarms and compartmentation.
Sources
Compiled from the council’s own published pages and documents; data reviewed September 2026. Rules and fees change, so always confirm with Coventry City Council before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.