East of England
HMO licensing in South Cambridgeshire
South Cambridgeshire 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 South Cambridgeshire (checked September 2026). The published licence fee starts at £895 (£544 to renew).
Mandatory licence
5+ people, 2+ households
National scheme
Additional / selective
None in force
Mandatory licensing only
Licence fee
From £895
Renewal £544
Decision time
Not published
Licensing schemes in South Cambridgeshire
South Cambridgeshire 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 £895, and £544 to renew. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.
Fee covers a 5-year mandatory HMO licence. New application costs £895 for up to 5 bedrooms, plus £36 per additional bedroom. Renewal costs £544 for up to 5 bedrooms, plus £24 per additional bedroom. Figures are the council's current 2026/27 rates (next review due 1 April 2027); no instalment plan is advertised. An inspection may be required before a licence can be applied for.
Check the current fee on the council website (scambs.gov.uk) 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
- A fire risk assessment must be completed to identify and control hazards.
- Fire safety standards apply, with separate published standards for HMOs of 3-4 storeys and for HMOs of up to 2 storeys.
- Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service may inspect common areas (hallways, landings) as part of assessment.
- Properties accommodating 7 or more residents require Building Control approval for conversion to residential use, and for any renovations involving plumbing, electrics, structural work or extensions.
Kitchen, bathroom and amenity standards
- Amenities (kitchen, bathroom, WC) should not be more than one floor away from the rooms they serve and must be easily accessible to residents.
- Facility requirements depend on occupancy levels and building type (shared house vs bedsit), per the council's Amenity Standards guidance.
Documents you will need
- Completed HMO licence application form — Submitted with the applicable fee; an inspection may be required before applying.
Sources
Compiled from the council’s own published pages and documents; data reviewed September 2026. Rules and fees change, so always confirm with South Cambridgeshire District Council before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.