South East
HMO licensing in Tandridge
Tandridge 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 Tandridge (checked September 2026). The published licence fee starts at £868.50.
Mandatory licence
5+ people, 2+ households
National scheme
Additional / selective
None in force
Mandatory licensing only
Licence fee
From £868.50
Decision time
Not published
Licensing schemes in Tandridge
Tandridge 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 £868.50, and £868.50 to renew. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.
Tandridge's own 'Houses in multiple occupation' page (fetched 23 September 2026) states verbatim: 'An HMO licence costs £868.50 and lasts for five years.' No separate renewal fee figure and no accredited-landlord discount are published on that page or in the council's own 'Amenity Standards - Houses in Multiple Occupation' guide (V3, revised March 2025, produced jointly with Mole Valley District Council via their shared Environmental Health & Licensing Service). Given the single published figure applies to any application (new or renewal) under this flat-fee structure, both totalGbp and renewalGbp are recorded as £868.50; this is not confirmed as identical for renewals specifically, since no distinct renewal page/figure was found.
Check the current fee on the council website (tandridge.gov.uk) before you apply.
Minimum room sizes
| Single bedroom | 6.51 m² minimum floor area for one occupant (national standard, also stated directly in Tandridge's own Amenity Standards guide). |
|---|---|
| Double bedroom | 10.22 m² minimum floor area for two occupants (national standard, also stated directly in Tandridge's own Amenity Standards guide). |
| Child under 10 | A room of 4.64 m² to 6.5 m² may be occupied by a child under 10, only where let/occupied in connection with an adjacent room of 6.51 m² or more for a parent/guardian; no room under 4.63 m² may be used as sleeping accommodation at all. |
| 1-2 person self-contained flat within a licensable HMO (bedroom only, separate living space) | 6.51 m² for 1 occupant / 10.22 m² for 2 occupants, per Tandridge's Amenity Standards guide. |
| 1-2 person self-contained flat, no separate living space | 10 m² for 1 occupant / 15 m² for 2 occupants, per Tandridge's Amenity Standards guide. |
| 1-2 person self-contained flat, kitchen included in room | 14 m² for 1 occupant / 18 m² for 2 occupants, per Tandridge's Amenity Standards guide. |
| Bedsit (exclusive kitchen facilities within the letting room, max 2 persons) | 14 m² for 1 occupant / 18 m² for 2 occupants, per Tandridge's Amenity Standards guide. |
| Ceiling height rule | Ceiling height for any room used for habitation must be at least 2.1 m over at least 50% of the floor area; floor space under 1.5 m ceiling height is excluded from the usable area calculation. |
| Notes | These figures come directly from Tandridge District Council's own published 'Amenity Standards - Houses in Multiple Occupation' document (V3, revised March 2025), produced by the Tandridge/Mole Valley shared Environmental Health & Licensing Service, and match/expand on the national statutory minimums under the Licensing of HMOs (Mandatory Conditions of Licences) (England) Regulations 2018. |
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
- The licence holder must prepare or commission a Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) for every HMO, following guidance in 'Home Stamp: A guide to fire safety and security in multi-occupied residential properties' and the LACORS Housing Fire Safety guidance.
- Fire alarm systems must be tested and maintained per British Standards: Grade D systems tested weekly with detectors cleaned at least annually (landlord may self-certify); Grade A systems tested weekly with inspection/servicing at least every 6 months per BS 5839-1:2013, with a certificate issued by a competent person.
- Emergency lighting systems must be tested regularly with a full system test/service completed annually by a competent person in line with BS 5266.
- Fire blankets must be provided in all kitchens, wall-mounted at chest height near the exit door.
- Higher-risk shared houses/bedsits (individual contracts, shared or in-room kitchens) require 30-minute fire doors on risk rooms, a Grade D LD1 mains-wired interlinked smoke/heat alarm system, locks openable from inside without a key on final exit and bedroom doors, and 30-minute fire-resistant ceilings to understairs cupboards/cellars - requirements scale with the number of storeys (1-2, 3, or 4+).
- Lower-risk shared houses (joint contract, cohesive group e.g. students) require a lighter Grade D LD2 alarm specification, but doors and escape-route requirements still scale with storeys.
- Basement and attic letting rooms are subject to additional requirements covering escape routes, room height (min. 2.1 m over 50% of floor area), natural lighting, ventilation and damp-proofing.
Kitchen, bathroom and amenity standards
- Personal washing facilities: minimum 1 bath/shower per 5 sharing persons; where a child under 10 lives in the property, a bath (not just a shower) must be provided.
- Sanitary facilities: 1-4 occupiers require 1 bathroom containing a toilet, bath/shower and wash basin (may be combined); 5 occupiers require 1 bathroom with bath/shower plus 1 separate toilet with wash basin; 6-10 occupiers require 2 bathrooms with bath/shower and 2 toilets with wash basins (one in a separate room); 11-15 occupiers require 3 bathrooms and 3 toilets (one separate). A full en-suite (bath/shower, toilet, wash basin) for exclusive use disregards that occupant from the shared-facility count.
- Shared kitchens: minimum size 7 m² for 3-5 occupants, 10 m² for 6-10 occupants (minimum kitchen width 1.8 m); a complete set of kitchen facilities (sink, 4-ring cooker with oven/grill, 3 double sockets, 1000mm x 600mm worktop, lockable food storage per occupant, 130L fridge + 60L freezer, 50L bin, mechanical ventilation) must be provided per 5 persons, with no more than 2 sets in one kitchen; 11+ occupants require two or more separate kitchens.
- Bedsits with exclusive-use kitchen facilities (max 2 persons per bedsit): minimum 2-ring hob with oven/grill, 130L fridge/freezer, food storage, worktop of at least 500mm x 1000mm, dedicated power sockets, stainless steel sink, and mechanical ventilation.
- Minimum fixture dimensions specified: wash hand basin 500mm x 400mm, splash-back 300mm high, bath 1700mm x 700mm, shower 800mm x 800mm, separate toilet compartment 1300mm x 900mm with 750mm clearance in front.
- Gas/electricity meters and isolating switches must be located in communal areas accessible to all occupiers at all times, never within a letting room.
Documents you will need
- Gas safety certificate — Current certificate where gas is supplied.
- Electrical installation documentation — Evidence electrical installations are safe (inspected at least every 5 years, per HHSRS).
- Fire detection commissioning certificate — Required where a new fire detection system has been installed.
- Fire detection servicing certificate — Required for existing/previously installed fire detection systems.
- Emergency lighting certificate — Required where an emergency lighting system is installed.
- Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) — Prepared or commissioned by the licence holder for the property, covering fire hazards and precautions.
- Detailed floor plans — Showing room sizes and fire detection/precaution measures.
Sources
Compiled from the council’s own published pages and documents; data reviewed September 2026. Rules and fees change, so always confirm with Tandridge District Council before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.