HMO licensing in Greenwich

Royal Borough of Greenwich does not publish a single figure we could confirm. Fees are set by the council and reviewed each year, so check its fees page.

Published per-letting rate only: HMO licence up to 5 lettings = £527.82 per letting; 6 or more lettings = £527.82 per letting for the first 5 plus £316.69 for every extra letting. Selective licence £905.75 (separate). Fees VAT exempt. Paid in 2 stages: first half on application, remainder when the draft licence is issued; no instalment plans.

Fee source: royalgreenwich.gov.uk (checked 2 October 2026). Fees change during the year, so check the council before you apply.

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.

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.

• Smoke alarms must be installed on every storey with living accommodation (bathrooms/lavatories count as living accommodation), with a heat detector/alarm in kitchens, to BS 5839 Part 6:2013.
• A carbon monoxide alarm is required in any room with a solid fuel appliance or gas appliance (including boilers), kept in proper working order.
• Fire doors must be sound, fitted with 100mm butt hinges, intumescent strips and cold smoke seals, a working self-closer, and a gap of no more than 3mm between door and frame; the licence holder must certify compliance within 3 months and supply manufacturer/third-party certification within 12 months.
• The manager must produce a fire risk assessment under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and supply it to the council on demand, and must notify the council of any fire at the property within 72 hours.
• All soft furnishings must comply with the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire)(Safety) Regulations 1988 (as amended), confirmed by signed declaration within 3 months of the licence being issued.

• Room sizes, kitchen facilities, washing facilities and heating standards must meet the Royal Borough's adopted 'Standards for Houses in Multiple Occupation' for the duration of the licence.
• Gas appliances must be serviced annually and a current gas safety certificate produced to the council each year; the gas and electricity supply must not be via a prepayment meter.
• Electrical installations must be tested and a current EICR held (5-year interval), with any low-risk remedial works completed within 2 years of the licence or by EICR expiry, whichever is sooner.
• A valid EPC is required, and if rated below E the licence holder must complete improvement works within 12 months or register a valid exemption within 3 months.
• Suitable and adequate refuse/recycling receptacles must be provided both within and outside the property in line with the council's waste and recycling scheme.

• Gas safety certificate (CP12) — Renewed annually and produced to the council each year for inspection.
• EICR — Electrical Installation Condition Report to BS 7671, renewed at least every 5 years.
• EPC — Valid Energy Performance Certificate; must be E or above, or a registered exemption in place within 3 months of the licence.
• Fire risk assessment — Suitable and sufficient assessment under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, produced to the council on demand.
• Furniture and furnishings fire-safety declaration — Signed declaration that soft furnishings comply with the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire)(Safety) Regulations 1988, due within 3 months of the licence being issued.

• royalgreenwich.gov.uk
• royalgreenwich.gov.uk
• royalgreenwich.gov.uk
• royalgreenwich.gov.uk

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