East of England
HMO licensing in East Suffolk
East Suffolk 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 Suffolk (checked September 2026). The published licence fee starts at £1,167 (£995 to renew).
Mandatory licence
5+ people, 2+ households
National scheme
Additional / selective
None in force
Mandatory licensing only
Licence fee
From £1,167
Renewal £995
Decision time
Not published
Licensing schemes in East Suffolk
East Suffolk 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 £1,167, and £995 to renew. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.
East Suffolk's 2025/26 Fees & Charges schedule sets the HMO licence fee for a property with up to and including 7 lettable units at £1,166.56 in total, made up of Part A ('grant of licence' costs: £489.28, covering receiving/checking the application, fit-and-proper-person check, validation visit and licence issue) and Part B ('licensed HMO scheme management' costs: £677.28, covering pre-application advice, routine and non-routine compliance visits, and general management). An additional £25 is charged per lettable unit above seven. Renewal of an existing licence costs £994.59 in total (Part A £328.06 + Part B £666.53). Pre-application advice visits are charged at an hourly rate of £64.50, and a variation of an existing licence with no structural changes is free.
Check the current fee on the council website (eastsuffolk.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 Suffolk's HMO page states that 'all licensable HMOs have a national minimum room size for each bedroom' without listing specific figures on the page itself; the figures above are the national statutory minimums under the Licensing and Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO Space Standards) Order, which the council applies as its 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
- The property must have an adequate means of escape from fire and other fire precautions appropriate to its size and layout.
- Gas installations require an annual Gas Safe safety check.
- Electrical installations must be tested and certified by a registered electrician (NICEIC or ECA) every 5 years.
- Certificates must be available for inspection within 7 days of a council request.
Kitchen, bathroom and amenity standards
- Minimum space standards must be met (see room sizes above).
- Fixed heating must be provided in habitable rooms, with adequate natural lighting and ventilation to each habitable room.
- Suitable bathroom and toilet facilities and adequate refuse storage must be provided.
- Furniture provided to tenants must comply with fire-retardancy (foam) regulations.
Documents you will need
- Gas safety certificate — Current annual Gas Safe certificate for all gas appliances.
- EICR — Electrical Installation Condition Report, renewed every 5 years.
- HMO licence application form — Housing Act 2004 Part 2 application form, available from the council.
Sources
Compiled from the council’s own published pages and documents; data reviewed September 2026. Rules and fees change, so always confirm with East Suffolk Council before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.