HMO licensing in Guildford

Guildford 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 £1,079, and £1,079 to renew. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.

Flat fee of £1,079 for a new or renewal HMO licence, paid via the council's licensing portal (Apply or renew a HMO licence page; the council's Fees and Charges 2026-27 schedule shows the HMO licence line rising from £1,037.34 in 2025-26 to £1,079.00 from 1 April 2026). Note the council's main HMO page (guildford.gov.uk/hmo) still shows the superseded £1,037.34 - the 2026-27 figure is used here. The published fee does not scale by occupant count. Discounts: £25 if the applicant is a member of a recognised landlord organisation, or £50 if an accredited landlord of the Guildford Letting Scheme (proof needed; the two discounts cannot be combined). A late application fee also exists in the fees schedule but its exact row could not be confidently read from the PDF text extraction so it is not quoted. Licences are normally issued for 5 years. No instalment option is published.

Check the current fee on the council website (guildford.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 risk assessed against the LACORS/CIEH 'Guidance on fire safety provisions for certain types of existing housing'; council may require additional measures after inspection.
• All smoke/heat detectors must be mains wired with built-in battery back-up and interlinked.
• Shared house (1-2 storeys): Grade D LD2 system to BS 5839-6 (2019): smoke alarms in communal hallways/landings and communal risk rooms, heat alarm in kitchen. Solid traditional-construction doors on escape route; FD30(s) door to kitchen.
• Non-shared house: interlinked mains smoke alarms in communal hallways/landings, heat alarm in kitchen, plus mains-wired detection inside individual bedrooms and communal risk rooms.
• Bedsits: 1-2 storeys Grade D LD2-mixed system; 3+ storeys Grade A LD2-mixed system connected to a fire panel, inspected/tested 6-monthly by a competent person with logbook. Heat detector to bedsits with cooking equipment. FD30(s) doors with three hinges, intumescent and smoke seals, overhead closers (BS EN 1154).
• Inner rooms should be avoided; where unavoidable need an alternative escape window (max 4.5 m above ground, 0.33 m² clear opening, min 450 mm x 450 mm), extended detection and an FD30(S) door between inner and outer room.
• Emergency lighting not normally required in small low-risk HMOs but may be where escape routes are long/complex or occupiers vulnerable; if fitted, test annually to BS 5266-1.
• Escape-route doors must open easily from inside without a key; no whitegoods/ignition sources or storage on escape routes; under-stairs cupboards need solid doors.
• Carbon monoxide alarms required where there is a solid fuel appliance. Electrical safety: 5-yearly fixed-wiring inspection (EICR) under the 2020 Regulations; certificates to be emailed to the regulatory services team.

• Shared kitchens: sink with drainer, cooker with four rings/burners plus oven and grill, 1 m worktop space, fridge/freezer capacity, one set of amenities per 6 tenants; four 13-amp sockets; hot and cold water; bins; extractor, fire blanket and fire door.
• Non-shared kitchen (e.g. bedsit): sink, fridge, cooker (two-ring hob acceptable) and worktop provided in the unit.
• Washing/toilet facilities: bath or shower and toilet ratio of 1 appliance per 5 occupants; where 4 or fewer share, at least one bathroom with fixed bath/shower and toilet.
• Toilet should be in a separate room from the main bathroom (case-by-case exceptions; a second toilet within a bathroom is acceptable); each room with a toilet needs a wash basin with hot/cold water and splashback. Basins are not normally needed in bedrooms.
• Bathrooms and toilets must be suitably heated, ventilated, adequately sized and near the living accommodation. No fixed kitchen or bathroom room-size minimums, but rooms must be adequate for ease of use.
• Management duties under the HMO Management Regulations 2006: contact details displayed, gas safety certificate on request, repair of shared areas, rubbish facilities, gardens and outbuildings maintained.

• Completed application form — All sections completed and all declarations signed, submitted via the council's online licensing portal (Housing Act 2004 > HMO licence).
• Licence fee payment — £1,079 paid on the licensing portal (2026-27), less £25 (landlord organisation member) or £50 (Guildford Letting Scheme accredited landlord) if eligible - proof of eligibility required.
• Gas safety certificate — Current certificate for the property (if gas is supplied), dated within the last 12 months at the time of application.
• Electrical installation condition report (EICR) — Dated within the last 5 years, satisfactory conclusion, and containing no C1, C2 or F1 codes.
• Proof of discount eligibility — Membership evidence for a recognised landlord organisation, or Guildford Letting Scheme accreditation evidence, if claiming a discount.
• Planning position — Licence is limited to one year if the right planning consent is not in place; planning permission must then be obtained within 12 months or occupancy reduced.

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