East of England
HMO licensing in Norwich
Norwich City 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 Norwich (checked September 2026). The published licence fee starts at £1,141.
Mandatory licence
5+ people, 2+ households
National scheme
Additional / selective
None in force
Mandatory licensing only
Licence fee
From £1,141
Decision time
Not published
Licensing schemes in Norwich
On 9 September 2026 Norwich City Council's Cabinet approved consulting on a new citywide additional (smaller HMO) licensing scheme and a separate selective licensing scheme for four wards (Nelson, Mile Cross, Sewell and Town Close). The statutory consultation must last at least 10 weeks but its start and end dates have not yet been published; no scheme is in force and any designation would run up to five years.
- Announced
- 9 September 2026
Verified 24 September 2026
Licence fees
The published fee for a new HMO licence is £1,141, and £1,141 to renew. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.
£636 is payable on application (non-refundable) and £505 once the application has been processed, covering a 5-year licence. By law the council can't profit from licensing -- the fee recoups the cost of running the scheme. Renewals cost the same as new applications.
Check the current fee on the council website (norwich.gov.uk) before you apply.
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 with room dimensions — To scale, showing every room and its floor area against the HMO minimums.
- Fire risk assessment — Current assessment of the property's means of escape, alarms and compartmentation.
Sources
Compiled from the council’s own published pages and documents; data reviewed September 2026. Rules and fees change, so always confirm with Norwich City Council before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.