West Midlands
HMO licensing in Staffordshire Moorlands
Staffordshire Moorlands 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 Staffordshire Moorlands (checked September 2026). The published licence fee starts at £450 (£350 to renew).
Mandatory licence
5+ people, 2+ households
National scheme
Additional / selective
None in force
Mandatory licensing only
Licence fee
From £450
Renewal £350
Decision time
Not published
Licensing schemes in Staffordshire Moorlands
Staffordshire Moorlands 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 £450, and £350 to renew. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.
First HMO licence application costs £450 for a 5-year licence; subsequent (renewal) applications cost £350. Payment is made online and the application cannot proceed without payment.
Check the current fee on the council website (staffsmoorlands.gov.uk) before you apply.
Minimum room sizes
| Double bedroom | 10.22 m² minimum floor area for two occupants aged 10 or over (national mandatory HMO licence condition under The Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (Mandatory Conditions of Licences) (England) Regulations 2018) — the council notes these statutory minimum bedroom sizes may reduce the maximum permitted occupancy of some already-licensed properties. |
|---|---|
| Single bedroom | 6.51 m² minimum floor area for one occupant aged 10 or over under the same 2018 Regulations; rooms below 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
- An automatic fire detection system must be installed within the house and maintained in proper working order.
- Landlords must provide a declaration, as and when required by the council, as to the condition and position of alarms.
Kitchen, bathroom and amenity standards
- Property must be suitable for multiple occupation by the permitted number of households.
- Licence holder and proposed manager must be assessed as 'fit and proper', with no relevant criminal record or history of breaching landlord law.
- Management arrangements must be satisfactory and the manager must be in control of the property.
Documents you will need
- Gas safety certificate (CP12) — Within the last 12 months for every gas appliance on the property.
- EICR — Electrical Installation Condition Report, dated within the last five years, with any Code 1 or Code 2 remedial work completed.
- EPC — Valid Energy Performance Certificate for the property.
- PAT testing certificate — Portable Appliance Testing certificate for landlord-supplied electrical items.
- Fire alarm and emergency lighting reports — Evidence of professional testing of both systems, plus a current fire risk assessment.
Sources
Compiled from the council’s own published pages and documents; data reviewed September 2026. Rules and fees change, so always confirm with Staffordshire Moorlands District Council before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.