North West
HMO licensing in Pendle
Pendle Borough 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 Pendle (checked September 2026). The published licence fee starts at £886.
Mandatory licence
5+ people, 2+ households
National scheme
Additional / selective
None in force
Mandatory licensing only
Licence fee
From £886
Decision time
Not published
Licensing schemes in Pendle
Pendle 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.
Licence fees
The published fee for a new HMO licence is £886. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.
The licence fee is split into an application fee (payable when applying) and a licence fee (payable once the licence is granted), covering a 5-year licence term. As of the council's current published figures, the application fee is £590 and the licence fee is £296, giving a total of £886. Pendle's committee-approved fees and charges schedule for 2025/26 set slightly lower figures of £562 (application) and £282 (licence), an uplift of 2.20% on 2024/25 charges of £550 and £276 respectively — the live webpage figures (£590/£296) are treated here as the most current.
Check the current fee on the council website (pendle.gov.uk) before you apply.
Minimum room sizes
| Single bedroom | 6.51 m² minimum floor area for one person over 10 years old (Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (Mandatory Conditions) (England) Regulations 2018). |
|---|---|
| Double bedroom | 10.22 m² minimum floor area for two persons over 10 years old (Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (Mandatory Conditions) (England) Regulations 2018). |
| Child's bedroom (under 10 years) | 4.64 m² minimum; rooms below this size cannot be used as sleeping accommodation at all (national HMO space standard). |
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
- A valid, current gas safety certificate, renewed annually, must be provided (Pendle Borough Council, Houses in Multiple Occupation - A Brief Guide for Landlords).
- Proof that all smoke alarms are correctly installed and positioned must be provided.
- Proof that all electrical appliances and furniture are maintained to a safe standard and meet regulations must be provided.
Kitchen, bathroom and amenity standards
- The HMO must be suitable for occupation by the number of people specified under the licence.
- Each occupier must have a written statement of the terms on which they occupy the property (e.g. a tenancy agreement).
Documents you will need
- Gas safety certificate (CP12) — Current, renewed annually, for every gas appliance in the property.
- Electrical safety evidence — Proof that electrical appliances and furniture are maintained to a safe standard.
- Smoke alarm evidence — Proof that smoke alarms are correctly installed and positioned.
- Tenancy agreement — Written statement of occupation terms for each occupier.
Sources
Compiled from the council’s own published pages and documents; data reviewed September 2026. Rules and fees change, so always confirm with Pendle Borough Council before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.