North West
HMO licensing in Rochdale
Rochdale Borough Council requires a mandatory licence for HMOs occupied by 5 or more people from 2 or more households. It also runs additional licensing, which brings smaller HMOs (typically 3 or 4 people) into licensing. The published licence fee starts at £1,011.
Mandatory licence
5+ people, 2+ households
National scheme
Additional / selective
Additional
Council-designated schemes
Licence fee
From £1,011
Decision time
Not published
Licensing schemes in Rochdale
Rochdale's additional HMO licensing scheme covers all 3 and 4 person HMOs (and section 257 buildings) across the whole borough. It came into force on 28 April 2025 and ceases to have effect on 28 April 2030 unless revoked earlier. No selective licensing scheme or new consultation is in place.
- In force from
- 28 April 2025
- Scheme ends
- 28 April 2030
Verified 24 September 2026
Licence fees
The published fee for a new HMO licence is £1,011. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.
The standard HMO application fee is £1,011, plus an inspection fee of £53 per habitable room. For example, a property with 10 habitable rooms costs £1,011 + £530 (10 x £53) = £1,541 in total for a 5-year licence (around £308.20 per year). This fee structure applies to both mandatory licences (5+ occupants, 2+ households) and the Additional Licensing scheme for smaller (3-4 person) HMOs, which covers the whole borough and has been in effect since 14 November 2024 following Cabinet approval on 29 October 2024.
Check the current fee on the council website (rochdale.gov.uk) before you apply.
Additional and selective licence fees
Fees for council-designated schemes are set separately from the mandatory HMO fee. Figures are the standard full-rate fee for a new licence, before any discounts.
Additional licence
No single standard fee
Council publishes a 5-year HMO licence fee of £1,011 standard application fee plus £53 inspection fee per habitable room; no fixed total for a standard case is published (the council's own worked example is a 10-habitable-room HMO at £1,541).
No discounts published on the council page.
Scheme: From 14 November 2024
Checked 2 October 2026 against rochdale.gov.uk
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
- Fire precautions form part of the prescribed government standards applied by the council when assessing HMO licence applications; the council's HMO Standards document sets out the detailed requirements.
Kitchen, bathroom and amenity standards
- Prescribed standards cover the number, type and quality of bathrooms, toilets and wash hand basins required for the number of occupants.
- Prescribed standards cover the number, type and quality of food storage, preparation and cooking facilities required for the number of occupants.
Documents you will need
- Fit and proper person registration — A separate online form must be completed first; the reference number generated is then used on the main application form.
- HMO application form — Completed using the reference number from the fit and proper person registration.
- Gas safety certificate — Current, for every gas appliance in the property.
- EICR — Electrical Installation Condition Report, current.
- Floor plans — Showing room layout and dimensions.
Sources
- rochdale.gov.uk
- rochdale.gov.uk
- rochdale.gov.uk
- rochdale.gov.uk
- democracy.rochdale.gov.uk
- legislation.gov.uk
Compiled from the council’s own published pages and documents; data reviewed September 2026. Rules and fees change, so always confirm with Rochdale Borough Council before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.