West Midlands
HMO licensing in Lichfield
Lichfield District Council requires a mandatory licence for HMOs occupied by 5 or more people from 2 or more households. No additional or selective licensing scheme is currently in force in Lichfield (checked September 2026). The published licence fee starts at £850.
Mandatory licence
5+ people, 2+ households
National scheme
Additional / selective
None in force
Mandatory licensing only
Licence fee
From £850
Decision time
Not published
Licensing schemes in Lichfield
Lichfield District 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.
Licence fees
The published fee for a new HMO licence is £850, and £850 to renew. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.
Standard fee for a new or renewal 5-year HMO licence covering up to 5 bedrooms is £850. For properties with more than 5 bedrooms, an extra £75 is charged per additional bedroom, up to a maximum total fee of £5,000. A separate £220 fee applies where an immigration status inspection is required. The council states it does not normally refund licence fees, as they cover processing costs, except in exceptional circumstances.
Check the current fee on the council website (lichfielddc.gov.uk) before you apply.
Minimum room sizes
| Double bedroom | 10.22 m² minimum floor area for two occupants aged 10 or over (national mandatory HMO licence condition under The Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (Mandatory Conditions of Licences) (England) Regulations 2018). |
|---|---|
| Single bedroom | 6.51 m² minimum floor area for one occupant aged 10 or over under the same 2018 Regulations. Lichfield's own HMO Amenity Standards Guidance confirms any room used as sleeping accommodation must have a floor area of not less than 4.64 m². |
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 safety requirements
- Working smoke/heat detection system appropriate to the layout of the property, correctly positioned and maintained.
- Fire doors and clear means of escape maintained free from obstruction.
- Emergency lighting to windowless common parts.
- Compliance with the council's published HMO amenity standards guidance.
Kitchen, bathroom and amenity standards
- Minimum number of kitchens, bathrooms and WCs set out in the council's HMO Amenity Standards Guidance, scaled to occupant numbers.
- Shared facilities kept in good working order, clean and fit for purpose.
- Adequate space heating in all habitable rooms.
Documents you will need
- Gas safety certificate (CP12) — Within the last 12 months for every gas appliance on the property.
- EICR — Electrical Installation Condition Report, dated within the last five years.
- EPC — Valid Energy Performance Certificate for the property.
- Floor plan — Showing room layout, dimensions and fire safety provisions, checked against the council's HMO amenity standards.
Sources
Compiled from the council’s own published pages and documents; data reviewed September 2026. Rules and fees change, so always confirm with Lichfield District Council before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.