North West
HMO licensing in Tameside
Tameside Metropolitan 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 Tameside (checked September 2026). The published licence fee starts at £995.
Mandatory licence
5+ people, 2+ households
National scheme
Additional / selective
None in force
Mandatory licensing only
Licence fee
From £995
Decision time
Not published
Licensing schemes in Tameside
Tameside Metropolitan 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 £995, and £995 to renew. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.
The HMO licence fee for 2025/26 is £995 (inc. VAT), up from £601 in 2024/25, as published in the council's Fees and Charges Schedule 2025/26 (Environmental Protection section). An additional £44 is charged per habitable room. The published schedule does not distinguish a separate renewal figure or set out an instalment plan; the same fee applies to both new applications and renewals.
Check the current fee on the council website (tameside.gov.uk) before you apply.
Minimum room sizes
| Single bedroom (person aged over 10) | 6.51 m² minimum floor area (Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (Mandatory Conditions of Licences) (England) Regulations 2018, applied nationally including in Tameside). |
|---|---|
| Double bedroom (2 persons aged over 10) | 10.22 m² minimum floor area (same Regulations). |
| Child's bedroom (under 10 years) | 4.64 m² minimum floor area; rooms below this size cannot be used as sleeping accommodation at all (same Regulations). |
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 safety inspection is carried out and a valid fire risk assessment is required for licensed HMOs, in line with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
- Landlords must maintain fire-fighting equipment and fire alarms in good working order under the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006.
- Fire escape routes must be kept free from obstruction and fire escape notices displayed, unless the HMO has 4 or fewer occupants.
Kitchen, bathroom and amenity standards
- Adequate number of bathrooms, toilets and wash hand basins must be provided, with a constant supply of hot and cold water, in line with the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006.
- A suitably located and adequately equipped shared kitchen must be provided for the number of occupants.
- Each unit of living accommodation must have adequate space heating.
Documents you will need
- Fire safety inspection certificate — Confirms the property's fire detection and precaution measures have been checked.
- Electrical installation inspection certificate (EICR) — Required to confirm the fixed electrical installation is safe.
- PAT certificate — Portable Appliance Test certificate for electrical appliances provided by the landlord.
- Gas safety inspection certificate (CP12) — Current annual certificate for all gas appliances at the property.
- Floor plan — Plan of the property showing room layout and dimensions.
- Basic DBS/CRB certificate — Required for the licence holder and any manager.
- Completed HMO licence application form — Submitted to the council's Housing Standards Team.
Sources
Compiled from the council’s own published pages and documents; data reviewed September 2026. Rules and fees change, so always confirm with Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.