North West
HMO licensing in Westmorland and Furness
Westmorland and Furness 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 Westmorland and Furness (checked September 2026). The published licence fee starts at £700.
Mandatory licence
5+ people, 2+ households
National scheme
Additional / selective
None in force
Mandatory licensing only
Licence fee
From £700
Decision time
Not published
Licensing schemes in Westmorland and Furness
Westmorland and Furness 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 £700, and £700 to renew. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.
A HMO licence costs £700 for a property with up to 5 bedrooms, plus £20 for each additional bedroom, applying equally to new applications and renewals. Licences run for up to 5 years. The council's published guidance does not set out an instalment plan. Westmorland and Furness is a unitary authority formed in April 2023 from the former Barrow, Eden and South Lakeland districts; its HMO licensing page and application form are now published centrally, with applications still handled through area-based Housing Standards teams for Barrow, Eden and South Lakeland.
Check the current fee on the council website (westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk) before you apply.
Minimum room sizes
| Single bedroom (person aged over 10) | 6.51 m² minimum floor area (as confirmed on the council's own HMO page, following the Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (Mandatory Conditions of Licences) (England) Regulations 2018). |
|---|---|
| Double bedroom (2 persons aged over 10) | 10.22 m² minimum floor area (same source). |
| 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 written fire risk assessment, carried out by a competent person, is required and must be reviewed at least every 5 years.
- Fire safety measures including fire doors, protected escape routes and fire alarms must be in place, in line with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
Kitchen, bathroom and amenity standards
- Properties must have adequate access, whether shared or individual, to a bathroom, toilet and cooking facilities for the number of occupants.
- Licence holders and managers must pass a 'fit and proper person' check (no relevant criminal convictions or breaches of landlord law).
Documents you will need
- HMO licence application form — Council application form, submitted to the relevant area Housing Standards team (Barrow, Eden or South Lakeland).
- Fire risk assessment — Written assessment carried out by a competent person, covering the whole property.
- Evidence of meeting amenity standards — Confirmation that bathroom, toilet and kitchen facilities meet the council's requirements for the number of occupants.
- Gas safety certificate (CP12) — Required nationally for every gas appliance at a licensed HMO under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.
- EICR — Required nationally under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020.
- EPC — Valid Energy Performance Certificate for 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 Westmorland and Furness Council before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.