HMO licensing in Isles of Scilly

Council of the Isles of Scilly 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.

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

No HMO licence fee amount is published on the council's website. The council's 'Applying for a HMO' page says: 'For information regarding fees for an HMO license, please contact environmentalhealth@scilly.gov.uk'. The Private Sector Housing Policy page says 'Please contact the Environmental Health department for a full breakdown of the fees and charges', and Annex A of the council's Housing Enforcement Policy (2018) states fees are updated annually and must be requested from environmentalhealth@scilly.gov.uk. The council's HMO application form (.doc) has a payment section (cheque payable to 'Council of the Isles of Scilly', or BACS by arrangement) and a stray '£ 1502.00' figure in a 'for office use only' area of the file; that figure is not labelled or explained anywhere on the council's web pages, so it has not been treated as a verified fee. The Enforcement Policy states the licence fee is non-returnable and that a 'tracing activity licence application fee' applies where a licensable HMO is found operating unlicensed but well managed (no amount stated). No renewal fee, instalment structure or discount is published.

Check the current fee on the council website (scilly.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.

• The council's amenity standard (Annex C, Housing Enforcement Policy 2018) says appropriate fire precaution facilities and equipment must be provided 'of such type, number and location as is considered necessary', and that the council and the fire and rescue authority can require a higher level of fire safety.
• A written fire risk assessment under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is described in the council's standard as essential for all HMOs.
• Shared kitchens must have fire blankets and fire doors to the kitchen (Annex C, para 7(c)(x) and (xi)).
• The council's licence application checklist requires an annotated floor plan showing fire detection provision, fire doors and position of amenities. It also asks for (where applicable) fire alarm design, installation and commissioning certificate, emergency lighting design, installation and commissioning certificate, and fire extinguisher service certificate.
• The application form asks about a fire alarm control panel and smoke detectors in rooms and common parts.
• No council-specific fire standard (e.g. LACORS-style guide, alarm grade, fire-door rating) has been published on the site beyond the general statements above.

• Amenity standards follow Schedule 3 of the Licensing and Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation and Other Houses (Miscellaneous Provisions) (England) Regulations 2006. The council's HMO Amenity Standards page describes them as mandatory and notes the council is a 'collaborative Council with Cornwall Council'; the linked guide was not retrievable as a document from the page.
• Bathrooms/WCs (Annex C, 2018 policy): 1-4 persons: at least 1 bathroom and 1 WC (may be combined), no wash hand basin (WHB) required in bedrooms. 5 persons: WHB in each sleeping room, plus 1 bathroom and 1 separate WC with WHB. 6-10 persons: WHB in each sleeping room, plus 2 bathrooms and 2 separate WCs with WHB (one WC may be within a bathroom). 11-15 persons: WHB in each sleeping room, plus 3 bathrooms and 3 separate WCs with WHB (two WCs may be within bathrooms).
• Where a unit has its own bath/WC it must be an enclosed, adequately laid out and ventilated room with a toilet and bath or fixed shower, with adequate cold and constant hot water, for exclusive use of that unit.
• Heating: each unit must have adequate fixed space heating compliant with Part L of the Building Regulations, able to achieve 20-22 C when outside temperature is -1 C.
• Washing facilities: baths, showers and WHBs need an adequate supply of cold and constant hot water; bathrooms must be suitably heated, ventilated, adequately sized and fit for purpose.
• Shared kitchen: suitably located, adequately sized, with sinks and draining boards, hot and cold water, cookers, electrical sockets, worktops, cupboards for food and utensils, refrigerator with adequate freezer compartment, refuse disposal facilities, extractor fans, fire blankets and fire doors.
• Where a unit has its own kitchen: cooking appliances, sink with hot and cold water, worktop, sufficient sockets, cupboard for utensils and crockery, and a refrigerator.
• Where standards are not met the council may add licence conditions requiring installation within a set time (Annex C says a maximum of 5 years); an HMO that does not meet the standards is unlikely to be licensed.
• Overcrowding is assessed against the Housing Act 1985 room and space standards (published on the council's Overcrowding page); the council may deal with overcrowding in an HMO via the licence or an overcrowding notice under section 139 of the Housing Act 2004.

• Completed and signed application form — Form HS62E 'HMO Licence Application' (Word .doc) from the council's Applying for a HMO page. The form includes a declaration that notice of the application has been served on mortgagees, owners, tenants/long leaseholders, proposed licence holder and manager and others with an interest. Marked as required for a valid application. Return to Environmental Health, Council of the Isles of Scilly, Town Hall, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, TR21 0LW.
• Licence fee — Required for a valid application and non-refundable. The amount is not published; contact environmentalhealth@scilly.gov.uk. Payment by cheque payable to Council of the Isles of Scilly (no cash) or BACS by arrangement.
• Annotated floor plan — With room descriptions, numbers, room sizes/dimensions, fire detection provision, fire doors and the position of amenities. Required for a valid application.
• Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) — Copy required for a valid application per the council's document checklist.
• Gas safety certificate — Copy of the Landlord's Gas Safety Certificate (if applicable). Marked as required for a valid application.
• Management agreement — Contractual agreement between the licence holder and the manager (if applicable). Marked as required for a valid application.
• Fire alarm certificate — Copy of fire alarm design, installation and commissioning certificate (if applicable). Listed on the checklist as supporting (not marked mandatory).
• Emergency lighting certificate — Copy of emergency lighting design, installation and commissioning certificate (where applicable). Supporting document.
• Fire extinguisher service certificate — Copy of service certificate (where applicable). Supporting document.
• PAT testing certificate — Copy of PAT testing certificate (if applicable). Supporting document.

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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 Council of the Isles of Scilly before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.