London
HMO licensing in Sutton
London Borough of Sutton requires a mandatory licence for HMOs occupied by 5 or more people from 2 or more households. It also runs additional licensing, which brings smaller HMOs (typically 3 or 4 people) into licensing. The published licence fee starts at £1,597.
Mandatory licence
5+ people, 2+ households
National scheme
Additional / selective
Additional
Council-designated schemes
Licence fee
From £1,597
Decision time
Not published
Licensing schemes in Sutton
Borough-wide additional HMO licensing covers smaller HMOs (3 or more unrelated occupiers forming more than one household) that fall below the 5-person mandatory threshold. It was approved by the Housing, Economy and Business Committee on 25 November 2025, started around 22 March 2026 and runs for 5 years. No selective licensing scheme is in force.
- In force from
- 22 March 2026
- Scheme ends
- 21 March 2031
Verified 24 September 2026
Licence fees
The published fee for a new HMO licence is £1,597, and £1,597 to renew. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.
Sutton charges a flat £319.40 per letting/room, applied equally to the Mandatory and Additional HMO Licensing schemes - so the total fee scales with the number of lettings in the property (e.g. £1,597 for a 5-letting HMO, used as the representative figure below). The fee is not published as a Part A/Part B split. There is no separate renewal fee - renewals are charged at the same per-let rate, and the council recommends applying at least 60 days before expiry. A £300 penalty fee applies where an unlicensed property is discovered by the council, or where an application remains incomplete 28 days after submission. Fees are non-refundable, and there is no charge for a variation unless additional rooms are being added, which are charged at the standard per-room rate.
Check the current fee on the council website (sutton.gov.uk) before you apply.
Additional and selective licence fees
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.
Additional licence
No single standard fee
Council publishes a per-let rate only: £319.40 per let, the same rate for both the Mandatory and Additional licensing schemes. No total fee for a standard HMO is published.
No discounts published. £300 penalty fee if no application was made and the property is later discovered by the council, or if a complete application is not provided within 28 days of initial submission. No fee for a licence variation unless adding rooms (then the per-let fee applies). Fees are not refunded.
Checked 2 October 2026 against sutton.gov.uk
Minimum room sizes
| Double bedroom (2 persons aged 10+) | 10.22 m² minimum floor area (national HMO space standard, SI 2018/616, referenced as Sutton's statutory minimum room sizes). |
|---|---|
| Single bedroom (1 person aged 10+) | 6.51 m² minimum floor area (national HMO space standard, SI 2018/616). |
| Room occupied by a child under 10 | 4.64 m² minimum floor area; any room below this cannot be used as sleeping accommodation at all (SI 2018/616). |
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
- Means of escape from fire must be protected and kept clear at all times.
- Adequate early-warning fire detection (smoke alarms) required throughout the property.
- The council applies LACORS Housing Fire Safety Guidance standards when assessing HMO fire precautions.
Kitchen, bathroom and amenity standards
- Sufficient kitchens and bathrooms must be provided for the number of occupiers.
- The property must be well maintained, in good repair, and not overcrowded.
Documents you will need
- Gas safety certificate — A valid, current gas safety certificate for the property.
- Electrical & appliance safety proof — Proof that the electrical installation, appliances and furniture are safe.
- Fire risk assessment — A current fire risk assessment for the property, plus proof that smoke alarms are correctly positioned and working.
- Floor plan & room measurements — A current floor plan with accurate measurements for every room 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 London Borough of Sutton before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.