HMO licensing in Malvern Hills

Malvern Hills 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.

The published fee for a new HMO licence is £893, and £653 to renew. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.

Fees from 1 April 2026 (2026-27 table on the council's HMO page) depend on occupancy and on whether it is a single application or one of several submitted together ('multiple application' rate). New standard licence (5-10 occupants): £893 single / £764 multiple. Increased occupancy: 11-15 occupants £1,454 / £1,387; 16-20 occupants £1,454 / £1,387 (published identical to the 11-15 band on the council page - possible typo on the source, verify with the council); 21+ occupants £1,662 / £1,598. Renewal licence (5-10 occupants): £653 single / £587 multiple; 11-15 £1,069 / £1,002; 16-20 £1,276 / £1,211; 21+ £1,485 / £1,419. Full fee is payable on submission of the online application. No accredited-landlord discount and no instalment option is published. Malvern Hills' fees differ from Wychavon's (e.g. £893 vs £820 for a new 5-10 occupant licence), so do not reuse Wychavon figures. If certificates were submitted with the original application and are still in date they need not be resubmitted at renewal.

Check the current fee on the council website (malvernhills.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 detection and alarm grade scales with HMO type and height: LD3 (interlinked mains-wired smoke alarms with battery back-up in escape routes, plus a heat alarm in the kitchen and smoke alarm in the lounge) for smaller shared houses up to 2 storeys; LD2 coverage including bedrooms and risk rooms, 30-minute protected escape routes and FD30S self-closing fire doors for larger shared houses (3+ storeys / higher risk) and bedsit-type HMOs.
• Fire blanket required in shared kitchens (and in bedsit rooms with cooking facilities); final exit and escape doors must be openable from inside without a key (e.g. thumb turn).
• Licence holder must produce a written fire risk assessment by a competent person and review it regularly; emergency lighting and fire apparatus must be maintained to current British Standards and escape routes kept clear.
• Remove polystyrene ceiling tiles and discourage portable gas or liquid heaters. Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service also inspects HMO communal areas under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
• Carbon monoxide detection, annual PAT testing of landlord-supplied appliances and at least 4 single (or 2 double) sockets in each habitable room are also required by the council's standards guide.

• Shared kitchen minimum floor areas: 7 sqm for 4-5 occupants, 11 sqm for 6-10, 15 sqm for 11-12; HMOs with more than 12 occupants need an additional separate kitchen. Each occupant needs 24-hour access to a suitable internal kitchen. Shared kitchens for 3-5 occupants need 1 full conventional cooker, a single sink with drainer, an under-counter fridge plus freezer (or fridge/freezer), 2 x 500mm base units and 2 x 1000mm wall units, 2000 x 500mm worktop and 2 twin sockets; provision increases for 6-10 and 11+ occupants.
• Shared bath/shower and WC scale: 1-4 occupants 1 bathroom and 1 WC (may be combined); 5 occupants 1 bathroom with WC plus 1 separate WC; 6-7 occupants 2 bathrooms with WCs; 8-10 occupants 2 bathrooms plus a separate WC (or third bathroom); 11-15 occupants 3 bathrooms with WC and 1 separate WC. Bedrooms must not be more than one floor from a communal bath/shower or WC.
• Bathroom sizes: shower room/en-suite 2.74 sqm, bathroom 3.74 sqm, separate WC compartment 1300 x 900mm (1.7 sqm) with wash hand basin; all with constant hot and cold water, lockable doors, tiled splashbacks and ventilation.
• Communal living space (where provided, to avoid the higher bedroom size): 11 sqm for 1-5 occupants, 14 sqm for 6-10, officer-calculated for 11+ occupants.
• Fixed heating must be provided in all rooms including bathrooms and WCs, controllable by each occupier; portable heaters are not accepted as suitable heating. Kitchen windows should be 20% of floor area.

• Gas safety certificate (CP12) — Gas Safe certificate obtained within the previous 12 months covering each landlord-supplied gas appliance; renewed annually for the licence period.
• EICR — Electrical Installation Condition Report for the mains wiring and fixed installations, dated within the previous 5 years, by a suitably qualified electrician; copy to the council.
• PAT certificate — Portable Appliance Test certificate for landlord-supplied electrical appliances (annual or as advised by the tester); keep with the HMO management log book.
• Fire risk assessment — Written fire risk assessment by a competent person, reviewed regularly.
• EPC — Valid Energy Performance Certificate; the council guide refers to a minimum rating of E.
• Licence fee payment — Full fee paid online with the application (and a renewal application plus renewal fee when renewing).

• malvernhills.gov.uk
• malvernhills.gov.uk
• malvernhills.gov.uk

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