HMO licensing in Halton

The published fee for a new HMO licence is £657, and £657 to renew. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.

2026/27 five-year HMO licence fee, tiered by number of rooms: £657.09 for up to and including 5 rooms, £703.92 for 6 rooms, £749.96 for 7 rooms, £796.27 for 8 rooms, £842.70 for 9 rooms, and £889.02 for 9 rooms and over. The council's fees schedule does not distinguish a separate lower renewal fee or an instalment option — the same tiered scale applies to both new applications and renewals.

Check the current fee on the council website (www3.halton.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.

• A written fire risk assessment, covering the whole HMO property, must be completed and will be requested as part of the licensing process.
• A smoke detector must be installed on each floor of the living accommodation, as a prescribed standard under the Housing Act 2004.
• A carbon monoxide alarm is a prescribed standard for any room used as living accommodation containing a solid fuel burning appliance; Halton also recommends one in any habitable room with a gas appliance.
• Fire safety enforcement is shared between Halton Council and Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service under a memorandum of understanding, including joint inspections.

• Bathroom/WC sharing ratio: up to 5 persons needs 1 bath/shower and 1 WC (with WHB); 6-10 persons needs 2 bath/showers and 2 WCs; 11-15 persons needs 3 bath/showers and 3 WCs.
• Shared kitchens need a minimum floor area of 7 m² for up to 5 people sharing, plus an additional 1 m² per occupant up to 10 persons; properties with 6-10 persons need 2 kitchens, and 11-15 persons need 3 kitchens.
• Communal living space (where provided in addition to bedrooms) must be at least 17.5 m² for a 5-bed HMO, plus 1 m² for each additional tenant.
• A HMO licence will not be issued to a property that does not meet a minimum EPC rating of E.

• Gas safety certificate (CP12) — Current certificate for all gas appliances, renewed annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer; the previous two years' records must be kept available for inspection.
• EICR — Electrical Installation Condition Report for the property, dated within the last five years.
• EPC — Valid Energy Performance Certificate meeting a minimum rating of E.
• Fire risk assessment — Written fire risk assessment covering the whole HMO property, required as part of the licensing process.

• www3.halton.gov.uk
• councillors.halton.gov.uk
• councillors.halton.gov.uk
• hbcnewsroom.co.uk

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