West Midlands
HMO licensing in East Staffordshire
East Staffordshire Borough Council requires a mandatory licence for HMOs occupied by 5 or more people from 2 or more households. It also runs selective licensing in designated areas, covering privately rented homes that are not licensable HMOs. The published licence fee starts at £1,110.
Mandatory licence
5+ people, 2+ households
National scheme
Additional / selective
Selective
Council-designated schemes
Licence fee
From £1,110
Decision time
Not published
Licensing schemes in East Staffordshire
Consultation closed on 3 April 2026 and the council approved (Cabinet, 14 September 2026) a new 5-year selective licensing scheme for 16 named streets in Burton upon Trent, in force 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2031. The current 9-street scheme (12 September 2022 to 11 September 2027) stays in force until its own end date.
- Announced
- 23 January 2026
- Consultation closes
- 3 April 2026
Verified 24 September 2026
Licence fees
The published fee for a new HMO licence is £1,110. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.
Mandatory HMO licence fee is tiered by bedroom count and paid in two parts: Part 1 on application, Part 2 once the application is ready to be granted. Fee covers a 5-year licence. 1-5 bedrooms: £333 + £777 = £1,110 total. 6-10 bedrooms: £408 + £951 = £1,359 total. 11+ bedrooms: £485 + £1,128 = £1,613 total. The council's published guidance does not state a separately discounted renewal figure for mandatory HMO licences (distinct from the Selective Licensing scheme's own renewal fee of £351, which applies only to non-HMO selective-licensing properties within the designated streets).
Check the current fee on the council website (eaststaffsbc.gov.uk) 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.
Selective licence
£544
Renewal £351
Current (2022) Burton selective licensing scheme: standard fee for a new licence for a single privately rented property, before discounts. Charged by invoice after application.
Discounts: £50 accredited landlord; £100 introductory discount for a complete application received within 6 weeks of the required application period; £50 multiple property discount (second and subsequent properties). Not available for invalid, late or expired-licence applications. A non-mandatory HMO in the scheme area is £666. A separate new Selective Licensing Scheme 2026 covering 16 named streets (approved by Cabinet on 14 September 2026) comes into effect on 1 January 2027 for 5 years, with fees of £700 for a new single-property licence (Part 1 £400 + Part 2 £300) and £800 for a non-mandatory HMO (£400 + £400); discounts under that scheme: £150 early application (within 6 weeks of the scheme starting), £50 accredited landlord, £50 multiple properties.
Scheme: From 12 September 2022 to 11 September 2027
Checked 2 October 2026 against eaststaffsbc.gov.uk
Minimum room sizes
| Double bedroom | 10.22 m² minimum floor area for two occupants aged 10 or over (national mandatory HMO licence condition under The Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (Mandatory Conditions of Licences) (England) Regulations 2018). |
|---|---|
| Single bedroom | 6.51 m² minimum floor area for one occupant aged 10 or over under the same 2018 Regulations; rooms below 4.64 m² cannot be used as sleeping accommodation. |
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
- An automatic fire detection system must be installed within the house and maintained in proper working order, as required under Schedule 3 to The Licensing and Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation and Other Houses (Miscellaneous Provisions) (England) Regulations 2006 (SI 2006/373).
- Landlords must provide a declaration, as and when required by the council, as to the condition and position of smoke/fire alarms.
- Fire Alarm and Emergency Lighting systems must be professionally tested, with test certificates retained.
- A current Fire Safety Risk Assessment must be in place for the property.
Kitchen, bathroom and amenity standards
- Adequate number of kitchens, bathrooms and WCs for the permitted occupancy.
- All shared amenities kept in good working order and repair.
- Tenancy deposits must be protected in a government-approved scheme.
Documents you will need
- Layout plans — Scale plans with measurements and marked fire precautions for the whole property.
- 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.
- PAT testing certificate — Portable Appliance Testing certificate for any landlord-supplied electrical items.
- Fire alarm and emergency lighting test certificates — Evidence of professional testing of both systems.
- Fire safety risk assessment — Current written risk assessment for the property.
- Tenancy agreement — Copy of the tenancy agreement(s) in use.
- Proof of ownership, identity and deposit protection — Evidence of title/ownership, identity of the licence holder, and confirmation tenant deposits are protected.
Sources
Compiled from the council’s own published pages and documents; data reviewed September 2026. Rules and fees change, so always confirm with East Staffordshire Borough Council before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.