HMO licensing in Salford

The published fee for a new HMO licence is £970, and £895 to renew. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.

Mandatory HMO licence fee (properties up to 12 bedrooms) is split into an application fee and a grant fee. First application: £679 application + £291 grant = £970. Subsequent (later) applications: £661.50 + £283.50 = £945. Renewal: £895 total. Properties with 13+ bedrooms pay an extra £40 per additional bedroom. Accredited landlords get a discount (£945 first application, £910 subsequent). Licences run for up to 5 years. Note: Salford's Additional HMO Licensing scheme (for 3-4 occupant HMOs, borough-wide) ended on 19 July 2026 and cannot be renewed. Salford also runs Selective Licensing in specific wards (not borough-wide, and not HMO-specific): Eccles, Winton & Barton (1 Sept 2022 - 31 Aug 2027, fee £609 first application / £589 subsequent) and Broughton, Kersal & Broughton Park (starts 21 Jan 2026, fee £609 first application / £570 subsequent from 22 July 2026).

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

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.

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.

• A written fire risk assessment must be submitted with every mandatory and additional HMO licence application, per the Housing Act 2004.
• An annual Fire Detection and Alarm System Certificate (to BS 5839) covering the whole house must be submitted to the council within the last 12 months.
• Landlords must follow the LACORS 'Housing - Fire Safety' guidance on provisions for existing housing.
• All kitchens, regardless of let style, must be fitted with a fire door.
• LPG and paraffin heaters are not acceptable under any circumstances.

• Where 4 or fewer occupiers share bathing/toilet facilities: at least one bathroom with a fixed bath or shower and a toilet (which may be in the bathroom).
• Where 5 or more occupiers share: one separate WC with wash hand basin for every 5 sharing occupiers, plus one bathroom (which may contain a toilet) with a fixed bath or shower for every 5 sharing occupiers.
• Shared kitchen sinks and 4-ring cookers provided at a ratio of 1 per 5 occupiers; worktop of at least 500mm x 1000mm per 5 occupants; fridge/freezer capacity for 2 fridges (or fridge+freezer) per 5 occupants.
• Mechanical kitchen ventilation to outside air at a minimum extraction rate of 60 litres/second (or 30 litres/second if the fan sits within 300mm of the hob centre).
• A current gas safety certificate, renewed annually, is required for all gas appliances.
• An EICR for the whole electrical installation, and a PAT certificate if let furnished, must be provided within the first 12 months of the licence or on tenancy change.

• Fire Detection and Alarm System Certificate — BS 5839 certificate obtained within the last 12 months, submitted annually.
• Fire risk assessment — Written assessment submitted with every application.
• Gas safety certificate (CP12) — Current certificate for all gas appliances, renewed annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
• EICR — Electrical Installation Condition Report for the whole installation, provided by a NICEIC/ECA member within the first 12 months of the licence.
• PAT certificate — Required if the property is let furnished with electrical appliances.
• EPC — Valid Energy Performance Certificate for the property.
• Basic DBS disclosure — Dated within the last three months, for both the proposed licence holder and property manager.

• salford.gov.uk
• salford.gov.uk
• salford.gov.uk
• salford.gov.uk
• salford.gov.uk

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