East of England
HMO licensing in Rochford
Rochford District 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 Rochford (checked September 2026). The published licence fee starts at £440 (£220 to renew).
Mandatory licence
5+ people, 2+ households
National scheme
Additional / selective
None in force
Mandatory licensing only
Licence fee
From £440
Renewal £220
Decision time
About 9 weeks
The council's stated aim
Licensing schemes in Rochford
Rochford 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.
Licence fees
The published fee for a new HMO licence is £440, and £220 to renew. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.
Mandatory HMO licence for up to 5 bedrooms: £440.00 for 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027, plus £69.00 for each additional bedroom. Renewal is charged at 50% of the fee (£220.00 for up to 5 bedrooms).
Fee source: rochford.gov.uk (checked 2 October 2026). Fees change during the year, so check the council before you apply.
Minimum room sizes
| Single bedroom | 6.51 m² minimum floor area for one person aged over 10 (statutory national minimum). Rooms under 4.64 m² cannot be used as sleeping accommodation. |
|---|
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
- Adequate means of escape and other fire precautions, reflecting the higher fire risk of HMOs (council refers to a separate 'Housing - Fire Safety' guide for full requirements).
- Manager must maintain fire escape routes, windows and ventilation in common areas.
Kitchen, bathroom and amenity standards
- Council has adopted the Essex approved code of practice for amenity standards in HMOs.
- Facilities (heating, lighting, ventilation, water, toilets, bathrooms, kitchens) must be adequate for the number of tenants.
- Manager must maintain utilities (water, drainage, gas, electricity) and common areas (halls, landings, stairs, kitchens, sanitary facilities, bedrooms) and display their contact details visibly in the property.
Documents you will need
- Completed HMO licence application form — Submitted online with the applicable fee via the council's licensing portal.
Sources
Compiled from the council’s own published pages and documents; data reviewed September 2026. Rules and fees change, so always confirm with Rochford District Council before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.