HMO licensing in Knowsley

Knowsley Metropolitan 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 £875, and £875 to renew. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.

Knowsley's official 'HMO Fees & Charges 2026-2027' schedule is tiered by occupant band and by licence length (landlords can choose a 5-year or a 1-year licence). Five-year licence: £875 (5 persons), £1,206 (6-10), £1,550 (11-15), £1,880 (16+). One-year licence: £420 (5 persons), £518 (6-10), £621 (11-15), £731 (16+). An accommodation/validation certificate and any Part 1 Housing Act enforcement are charged at full cost recovery. No separate discounted renewal rate is published — the same banded schedule applies. Figures below use the 5-person, 5-year tier as the representative example.

Check the current fee on the council website (knowsley.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 licence holder must ensure smoke alarms are installed throughout the property and kept in proper working order, and must supply the council, on demand, with a declaration of their condition and positioning — a mandatory licence condition under Schedule 4 of the Housing Act 2004 as applied by Knowsley.
• The property is inspected before a licence is granted to check that amenities and fire precautions are adequate for the proposed occupancy.
• As with all licensed HMOs nationally, a carbon monoxide alarm is required in any room with a fixed combustion appliance.

• The licence holder must keep electrical appliances and furniture supplied by them in a safe condition, and supply a safety declaration to the council on demand.
• The licence holder must supply occupiers with a written statement of the terms on which they occupy the property.
• The licence holder must comply with any council scheme for the storage and disposal of household waste at the property.

• Gas safety certificate — Current certificate (within the last 12 months) for every gas appliance, produced annually to the council if gas is supplied.
• Electrical safety declaration — Declaration that landlord-supplied electrical appliances and furniture are in a safe condition.
• Smoke alarm declaration — Declaration of the condition and positioning of installed smoke alarms.
• Written statement of terms — Written statement of occupancy terms supplied to every occupier.
• HMO Application Form — Knowsley's own HMO Application Form (.docx), completed and submitted with the fee.

• knowsley.gov.uk
• knowsley.gov.uk
• knowsley.gov.uk

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