HMO licensing in Rother

Rother 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.

The published fee for a new HMO licence is £1,163, and £830 to renew. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.

Rother District Council's own HMO page states verbatim: 'For an initial application the fee is £1122 and then a further £60 to issue the licence. If both fees are paid at the same time the total is reduced to £1163. For a renewal of a licence the fee is £792 and then a further £60 to issue the licence. If both fees are paid at the same time the total is reduced to £830.' totalGbp/renewalGbp below record the combined (both-fees-paid-together) figures: £1,163 for a new/initial licence and £830 for a renewal. An additional £415 surcharge is added to the initial application fee where the council finds a property operating unlicensed before an application is made (an enforcement surcharge, not a standard application cost, and not included in totalGbp). No accredited/national-landlord-association discount is published, and no instalment option is mentioned on the council's page.

Check the current fee on the council website (rother.gov.uk) before you apply.

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.

• For all properties with common parts, a Fire Risk Assessment must be completed in accordance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (Rother District Council HMO page).
• Licensable HMOs should have a suitable fire alarm system, inspected/serviced at intervals not exceeding six months, with a current test certificate submitted to the council (Rother District Council HMO page).
• The council's amenities guidance directs landlords to the LACORS 'Housing - Fire Safety' guidance document (Guidance on fire safety provisions for certain types of existing housing, 2008) for the risk-based approach to fire precautions, and specifies Grade A and Grade D (BS 5839) fire detection/alarm systems as the usual types specified for HMOs.
• Doors to rooms leading onto the escape route should be self-closing fire doors complying with the LACORS/Building Regulations Approved Document B guidance referenced in the document.

• Washing facilities (Schedule 3, Licensing and Management of HMOs and Other Houses (Miscellaneous Provisions) (England) Regulations 2006, as reproduced in Rother's guidance): 1-4 people sharing - minimum 1 bathroom and 1 WC (may be combined); 5 people - 1 bathroom AND 1 separate WC with wash-hand basin (WC may be within a second bathroom); 6-10 people - 2 bathrooms AND 2 separate WCs with wash-hand basins (1 WC may be within 1 bathroom); 11-15 people - 3 bathrooms AND 3 separate WCs with wash-hand basins (2 WCs may be within 2 bathrooms). A wash-hand basin is required in each bedroom for 5+ occupants where practical.
• Each bathroom must have a wash-hand basin (minimum 560mm x 430mm) and either a bath (minimum 1700mm x 760mm) or a shower cubicle (minimum 800mm x 800mm).
• Heating: fixed space heating must reach and maintain 21°C in living rooms/bedrooms, 22°C in bathrooms, and 18°C elsewhere, within one hour of being turned on when the external temperature is -1°C; paraffin, LPG and free-standing plug-in electric heaters are not acceptable.
• Kitchens: see council-specific size table above (roomSizes.Notes); kitchens must be equipped per the national Schedule 3 requirements (sinks with draining boards, hot/cold water, cooking facilities, electrical sockets, worktops, food storage, fridge/freezer, refuse disposal, extractor fans, fire blankets and fire doors).

• Gas safety certificate — Current Gas Safe Registered Engineer's report, provided on demand; required at least every 12 months if gas is supplied.
• Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) — Must be submitted with the application; the report's stated 'next inspection due' date must be within one year of the application date. Inspection must be completed by a competent contractor registered with NICEIC, ECA, NAPIT or similar.
• Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) certificates — Test certificates for portable electrical equipment supplied by the landlord.
• Fire detection system test certificate — Current test/inspection certificate, required at intervals not exceeding six months for licensable HMOs.
• Written statement of occupancy terms — A written statement setting out the terms of occupation for residents.

• rother.gov.uk
• rother.gov.uk
• rdcpublic.blob.core.windows.net

Compiled from the council’s own published pages and documents; data reviewed September 2026. Rules and fees change, so always confirm with Rother District Council before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.