East of England
HMO licensing in Epping Forest
Epping Forest 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 Epping Forest (checked September 2026). The published licence fee starts at £1,036.
Mandatory licence
5+ people, 2+ households
National scheme
Additional / selective
None in force
Mandatory licensing only
Licence fee
From £1,036
Decision time
About 6 weeks
The council's stated aim
Licensing schemes in Epping Forest
Epping Forest 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 £1,036. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.
Epping Forest charges a base HMO licence fee of £1,036.00 covering up to 5 units of accommodation, with an additional £41.00 charged per extra unit above five. No discounted renewal fee or instalment plan is advertised on the council's pages.
Check the current fee on the council website (eppingforestdc.gov.uk) before you apply.
Minimum room sizes
| Single bedroom (1 occupant, HMO with shared facilities) | 6.51 sqm minimum (Essex HMO Amenity Standards, referenced by Epping Forest District Council as one of its adopted HMO standards documents). |
|---|---|
| Double bedroom (2 occupants, HMO with shared facilities) | 10.22 sqm minimum (Essex HMO Amenity Standards). |
| Notes | These match the national minimum room sizes under the Licensing and Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO Space Standards) Order (10.22 sqm for two people over 10, 6.51 sqm for one person over 10, 4.64 sqm for one child under 10). |
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
- Standards follow LACORS Housing - Fire Safety guidance, referenced by the council alongside the Essex HMO Amenity Standards.
- A gas safety certificate, and fire alarm/emergency lighting test certificates, must be submitted with the application.
Kitchen, bathroom and amenity standards
- Kitchen, bathroom and WC provision follows the Essex HMO Amenity Standards, adopted across Essex local authorities including Epping Forest.
- Management obligations follow the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006, referenced directly by the council.
Documents you will need
- Gas safety certificate — Current annual gas safety certificate for all gas appliances.
- EICR — Electrical Installation Condition Report.
- PAT certificate(s) — Portable Appliance Testing certificate(s) for landlord-owned appliances.
- Fire alarm/emergency lighting test certificates — Current test certificates for the fire alarm system and any emergency lighting.
- Floor plan — Showing room sizes, bathroom/toilet/kitchen positions, kitchen layout, and smoke/fire alarm and fire door locations.
Sources
Compiled from the council’s own published pages and documents; data reviewed September 2026. Rules and fees change, so always confirm with Epping Forest District Council before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.