HMO licensing in Somerset

Somerset 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 £949, and £836 to renew. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.

Fee confirmed on Somerset Council's own 'Houses in multiple occupation licensing' page (single unified fee table for the whole unitary area, replacing the separate fee schedules formerly used by Mendip, Sedgemoor, South Somerset and Somerset West and Taunton District Councils, which merged into Somerset Council in April 2023). The fee is payable in two parts: Part 1 on submission (non-refundable if the application is unsuccessful or withdrawn), Part 2 when the council confirms it will issue the licence. New HMO Licence (up to 5 bed max): Part 1 £738 + Part 2 £211 = £949 total; each additional person over 5 costs a further £43. Renewal HMO Licence (up to 5 bed max): Part 1 £625 + Part 2 £211 = £836 total; each additional person over 5 costs a further £33. No accredited-landlord discount or instalment scheme is mentioned on the council's page.

Check the current fee on the council website (somerset.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.

• Layout plan submitted with the application must indicate the position of all fire safety measures: smoke alarms and/or heat detectors, fire doors, emergency lighting and the fire control panel (Somerset Council, HMO Licensing page).
• A current Inspection and Test Certificate for the emergency lighting system to BS 5266, issued within the last 12 months, is required where an emergency lighting system is fitted (Somerset Council, HMO Licensing page).
• A current Inspection and Test Certificate for the Automatic Fire Detection system to BS 5839, issued within the last 12 months, is required where such a system is fitted (Somerset Council, HMO Licensing page).
• All HMOs require fire precautions following LACORS Housing Fire Safety guidance; most HMOs need a fire risk assessment, with guidance available from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service; licensed HMOs and properties with common areas must have formal fire risk assessments (Somerset Council, HMO Standards and Regulations page).
• HMO Management Regulations require the licence holder to keep all means of escape from fire free from obstruction, and to maintain smoke alarms and heat detectors (Somerset Council, HMO Standards and Regulations page).

• Somerset Council's own HMO Licensing and HMO Standards and Regulations web pages do not publish a kitchen/bathroom-to-occupant ratio table in the page text; the council instead refers to a separate 'HMO Licensing Standards' PDF (SharePoint-hosted) which was not accessible during this research (see fireSafety notes) - no amenity-ratio figures are recorded here rather than guessed.
• The council states a licence will only be issued where 'the property is reasonably suitable for the number of people allowed and meets our minimum standards for toilets, bathrooms, kitchen facilities etc' (Somerset Council, HMO Licensing page), confirming such standards exist but without stating the figures on the page itself.

• Completed HMO application form — Submitted online via the council's 'Apply for an HMO licence' form, together with the correct fee.
• Layout plan of the property — Showing the layout, position and use of each room, room number, and room sizes/measurements, and marking the position of all fire safety measures (smoke/heat detectors, fire doors, emergency lighting, fire control panel).
• Landlord Gas Safety Certificate (CP12) — Current, satisfactory certificate issued within the last 12 months, required if the property has a gas supply.
• Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) — Current, satisfactory report from a competent person (e.g. NICEIC or NAPIT qualified), issued within the last 5 years.
• Emergency lighting Inspection and Test Certificate (BS 5266) — Issued within the last 12 months, where an emergency lighting system is fitted.
• Automatic Fire Detection system Inspection and Test Certificate (BS 5839) — Issued within the last 12 months, where an automatic fire detection system is fitted.
• Portable Appliance Test (PAT) certificate — Current certificate for any portable electrical appliances supplied by the landlord for tenants' use.
• Fit and proper person supporting information — Additional information/documents required where 'yes' is answered to any question in the fit-and-proper-person section of the application form.

• somerset.gov.uk
• somerset.gov.uk
• swt-self.achieveservice.com

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