East of England
HMO licensing in East Hertfordshire
East Hertfordshire District 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 East Hertfordshire (checked September 2026). The published licence fee starts at £1,432 (£1,191 to renew).
Mandatory licence
5+ people, 2+ households
National scheme
Additional / selective
None in force
Mandatory licensing only
Licence fee
From £1,432
Renewal £1,191
Decision time
Not published
Licensing schemes in East Hertfordshire
East Hertfordshire 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.
Licence fees
The published fee for a new HMO licence is £1,432, and £1,191 to renew. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.
East Herts charges its HMO licence fee in two parts, based on a standard five-bedroom HMO with an additional charge per extra bedroom. For a NEW application: Part 1 is £1,157 and Part 2 (payable when the draft licence is issued) is £305, giving a total of £1,462 if paid in two stages, or £1,432 if the full amount is paid upfront (a £30 discount for not requiring a second invoice). Additional bedrooms above five are charged at £31 each. For a RENEWAL: Part 1 is £916 and Part 2 is £305 (total £1,221 in two stages, or £1,191 paid upfront), again with a £31 charge per bedroom above five. Renewal applications must be submitted before the existing licence expires, or they are treated - and charged - as a new application.
Check the current fee on the council website (eastherts.gov.uk) before you apply.
Minimum room sizes
| Double bedroom (2 occupants, 10+ years) | 10.22 m² minimum floor area (national HMO space standard). |
|---|---|
| Single bedroom (1 occupant, 10+ years) | 6.51 m² minimum floor area (national HMO space standard). |
| Child's bedroom (under 10 years) | 4.64 m² minimum floor area (national HMO space standard). |
| Notes | East Herts' public HMO pages do not itemise room dimensions and instead refer landlords to the council's separate 'Amenity Standards (2018)' document; the figures above are the national statutory minimums under the Licensing and Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO Space Standards) Order, applied as the licensing baseline. |
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 mains-operated smoke detector is required in the hallway/landing of each storey, as a minimum.
- A carbon monoxide detector is required in any room containing a solid fuel appliance (e.g. an open coal fire), in line with the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015.
- The council may impose additional fire safety measures on a property-by-property basis as licence conditions.
Kitchen, bathroom and amenity standards
- Detailed amenity requirements (kitchen, bathroom and WC provision) are set out in the council's separate Amenity Standards (2018) document.
- The basic HMO fee is calculated on the basis of a standard five-bedroom property, with additional charges per extra bedroom, reflecting expected occupancy and facility-sharing levels.
Documents you will need
- Gas safety certificate (CP12) — Required annually where the property has a gas supply.
- EICR — Electrical Installation Condition Report, required as a standard licence condition.
- EPC — 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 East Hertfordshire District Council before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.