North West
HMO licensing in South Ribble
South Ribble Borough 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 Ribble (checked September 2026). The published licence fee starts at £846.
Mandatory licence
5+ people, 2+ households
National scheme
Additional / selective
None in force
Mandatory licensing only
Licence fee
From £846
Decision time
Not published
Licensing schemes in South Ribble
South Ribble Borough 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 £846, and £846 to renew. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.
A 5-year mandatory HMO licence costs £484 (application fee) plus £362 (grant fee, payable once the licence is approved), giving a total of £846 for a property with up to 5 occupants. Properties with more than 5 occupants pay an extra £60 per additional occupant on both the application and grant fee. A licence variation/amendment costs £122. South Ribble's published fee table does not describe a formal instalment plan, but the fee is split into an application-stage payment and a later grant-stage payment.
Check the current fee on the council website (southribble.gov.uk) before you apply.
Minimum room sizes
| Single bedroom (with separate communal living space) | 6.51 m² minimum floor area (South Ribble/Chorley HMO Guide & Amenity Standard 2024, Table 1). |
|---|---|
| Double bedroom, 2 persons (with separate communal living space) | 10.22 m² minimum floor area (South Ribble/Chorley HMO Guide & Amenity Standard 2024, Table 1). |
| Single bedroom (no separate communal space provided) | 10 m² minimum floor area, since the room must also serve as living space (South Ribble/Chorley HMO Guide & Amenity Standard 2024). |
| Double bedroom, 2 persons (no separate communal space provided) | 15 m² minimum floor area (South Ribble/Chorley HMO Guide & Amenity Standard 2024). |
| Child's bedroom (under 10 years) | 4.64 m² minimum; any room below this size cannot be used as sleeping accommodation at all (national HMO space standard, applied by the council). |
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 written fire risk assessment, carried out by a competent person, is a condition of every HMO licence and must be in place before the building is occupied.
- Bedroom, kitchen and cellar doors must be 30-minute fire doors fitted with intumescent/cold smoke seals and self-closing devices.
- 1-2 storey HMOs need a Grade D1-LD2 mains-powered, interlinked smoke/heat alarm system; HMOs of 3+ storeys or over 200 m² need a Grade A-LD2 communal fire alarm and detection system.
- A 30-minute protected escape route must be maintained, kept clear of obstructions, with 60-minute separation from any commercial premises.
- A fire blanket must be provided in every kitchen.
- Escape windows (where required for inner rooms) must have a minimum clear opening of 0.33 m² and be openable without a key.
- Grade A alarm systems must be tested weekly and serviced every 6 months; Grade D systems tested monthly and serviced annually.
Kitchen, bathroom and amenity standards
- Under 5 occupants: at least 1 full bathroom (bath/shower, toilet, wash hand basin). 5 occupants: 1 full bathroom plus a separate WC with wash hand basin. 6-9 occupants: 2 full bathrooms. 10 occupants: 2 full bathrooms plus 2 separate WCs with wash hand basins.
- Shared kitchens for 3-5 people need a 1.5-bowl sink, a 4-ring cooker with oven and grill capable of simultaneous use, a microwave, kettle, toaster, and worktop of at least 1500 mm (plus 500 mm per extra occupant beyond 3).
- Kitchens must have a minimum width of 1.8 m with a 900 mm clear walkway, be within one floor of a bedroom or communal area, and accommodate 75% of sharing occupants at once.
- Fridge/freezer space of at least 30 litres fridge and 15 litres freezer per person must be provided.
- Heating must be able to maintain 21°C in communal rooms, bedrooms and kitchens, 22°C in bathrooms, and 18°C in hallways, when it is -3°C outside, and must be controllable by tenants.
- Minimum floor-to-ceiling height of 2.14 m in all habitable rooms, kitchens, bathrooms and toilets.
Documents you will need
- Basic DBS check — Required for the licence holder and any manager, completed within the last 12 months.
- Gas safety certificate (CP12) — Dated within the last 12 months for every gas appliance in the property.
- EICR — Electrical Installation Condition Report, dated within the last 5 years, or after any alteration.
- EPC — Valid Energy Performance Certificate for the property.
- Fire risk assessment — Written assessment carried out by a competent person, covering the whole property.
- Fire alarm/emergency lighting test certificate — Dated within the last 12 months, confirming the detection and (where fitted) emergency lighting systems are working.
- PAT testing records — Portable appliance test records or a declaration, dated within the last 12 months, for any electrical items supplied by the landlord.
- Tenancy agreement — Copy of the agreement used at the property.
- Property management statement — Details of how the HMO is managed day-to-day.
- Floor plan — Showing room uses, dimensions and the location of fire safety features.
- Details of interested parties — Names of any co-owners, freeholders or other interested parties in the property.
Sources
Compiled from the council’s own published pages and documents; data reviewed September 2026. Rules and fees change, so always confirm with South Ribble Borough Council before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.