HMO licensing in Elmbridge

Elmbridge Borough 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.

The published fee for a new HMO licence is £600, and £600 to renew. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.

The council's HMO page states a £600 application fee for a 5-year HMO licence, with a £50 discount for members of a recognised landlord association (e.g. RLA or NLA) or a recognised landlord accreditation scheme (so £550 for eligible applicants). The fee appears to be a single flat amount regardless of the number of occupiers or rooms, and is paid in full with the application (no instalments published). The council's application form (October 2018) covers both new and renewal applications and states 'all applications must be accompanied by the appropriate fee, currently £600.00 with £50.00 discount', so the renewal fee is taken as £600 (no separate renewal fee is published). The £600 figure is the same on the live HMO page and on the 2018 application form, so it may not have been reviewed for some time; confirm with the council before quoting.

Check the current fee on the council website (elmbridge.gov.uk) before you apply.

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 standards are based on LACORS Housing Fire Safety guidance with early detection and a presumption of total evacuation (not stay-put).
• Automatic fire detection and warning system to BS 5839 Part 6: Grade A for larger/more complex HMOs and always where cooking facilities are in letting rooms; Grade D for smaller HMOs; mixed systems for bedsit-type HMOs. Heat detectors in kitchens, smoke detectors in bedrooms and common areas. Log of regular testing kept on site and competent-person servicing every 6-12 months with a certificate.
• Separation between units: minimum 30 minutes fire protection (brick/block or timber stud and plasterboard); timber-clad stud walls and non-fire-resistant glazing are not acceptable.
• 30-minute fire doors (with 3 steel hinges, intumescent strips, smoke seals where the system permits, and self-closers) throughout larger HMOs except bathrooms/WCs without a boiler; in 2-storey HMOs not always all rooms but always the kitchen; required to any letting room with cooking facilities. Gaps no more than 3 mm.
• Emergency lighting to BS 5266 where the escape route is long, complex or lacks natural light.
• Fire blanket close to the exit door in any letting room or communal kitchen with cooking facilities; extinguishers may be needed in larger HMOs.
• Escape windows where required: one side-hinged openable window per bedroom with clear opening 450 x 450 mm and lower edge no more than 1.1 m above floor.
• All escape doors (including final exit and bedroom doors) openable from inside without a key (thumb-turn or snib locks).
• A fire risk assessment by a competent person is required under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005; furnishings must comply with the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988.

• Kitchens are generally provided at one set of facilities per 5 occupants; no kitchen should have more than 2 complete sets of facilities; dishwasher/combination microwave may substitute for a second set for 6-7 occupants.
• Typical kitchen set: full-size cooker (or 4-ring hob plus separate oven), 1.0 m sink and drainer, 0.5 m of worktop per occupant (plus 0.5 m), a fridge shelf per occupant and similar freezer space, cupboard space for dry food and utensils, and sufficient spare electrical sockets.
• Minimum kitchen size is 7 m² for 5 persons; a six-person HMO kitchen may need 10 m² plus a communal room. Shared kitchens ideally no more than one floor from any letting.
• Bathrooms: at least one bathroom (bath or shower, WC and wash hand basin) per 5 occupants; for 6 to 10 occupants two bathrooms are required, one of the WCs being separately located with a wash hand basin.
• All bathrooms adequately heated and ventilated with constant hot and cold water; wash hand basin in each unit where reasonably practicable.
• Adequate heating in each letting (21°C target), thermostatic and programmable control if electric; no portable naked-flame heaters. Mechanical extract ventilation (10-minute overrun, linked to light) in kitchens and bathrooms; bedroom window at least 1/10 of floor area, half openable.

• Gas safety certificate — Annual certificate from a Gas Safe registered contractor covering all gas appliances and pipework.
• Fire detection and emergency lighting test certificates — Test certificate and maintenance records for any automatic fire detection (AFD) and/or emergency lighting (EL) systems, carried out by a competent person.
• Fixed wiring electrical test certificate (EICR) — Carried out by an approved electrical contractor; must be done every 5 years.
• Fire risk assessment — Document produced by a competent person.
• Plan of the premises — Marking bedrooms, kitchens and bathrooms (ideally to scale or a proportionate sketch), room areas may be included, and marking any smoke/heat detectors.
• Application fee — £600, or £550 with the £50 discount for membership of a recognised landlord association or accreditation scheme; payable by cheque or BACS.
• Notification of interested parties — Written notice of the application to mortgagee, freeholder/head lessor, long leaseholders, proposed licence holder and managing agent, with the signed declaration of notification; renewal applications also need the additional renewal declaration.

• elmbridge.gov.uk
• elmbridge.gov.uk
• elmbridge.gov.uk

Compiled from the council’s own published pages and documents; data reviewed September 2026. Rules and fees change, so always confirm with Elmbridge Borough Council before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.