South West
HMO licensing in Plymouth
Plymouth 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 Plymouth (checked September 2026). The published licence fee starts at £1,097 (£1,040 to renew).
Mandatory licence
5+ people, 2+ households
National scheme
Additional / selective
None in force
Mandatory licensing only
Licence fee
From £1,097
Renewal £1,040
Decision time
Not published
Licensing schemes in Plymouth
Plymouth City 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 £1,097, and £1,040 to renew. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.
Initial application: £1,097 full fee, or £982 with an accredited-landlord discount. Renewal: £1,040 full fee, or £924 with the discount. The council states application fees are non-refundable; an underpaid fee will be invoiced for the difference.
Check the current fee on the council website (plymouth.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 Plymouth City Council before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.