North West
HMO licensing in Wyre
Wyre 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 Wyre (checked September 2026). The published licence fee starts at £1,200.50 (£320 to renew).
Mandatory licence
5+ people, 2+ households
National scheme
Additional / selective
None in force
Mandatory licensing only
Licence fee
From £1,200.50
Renewal £320
Decision time
Not published
Licensing schemes in Wyre
Wyre 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 £1,200.50, and £320 to renew. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.
The current HMO licence fee is £1,200.50, covering an initial 5-year licence. The renewal fee for a further 5-year term is £320, as reported to Wyre's Overview and Scrutiny Committee in January 2025. No instalment plan is published.
Check the current fee on the council website (wyre.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 Wyre). |
|---|---|
| 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
- Fire detection systems in HMOs must be more sophisticated than in single dwellings, with linked detectors required in all bedrooms and risk rooms so an alarm anywhere is heard everywhere.
- Escape routes must be protected with self-closing fire doors fitted to every bedroom and risk room, to give occupants at least 30 minutes to evacuate.
- All licensed HMOs are inspected by the council prior to the initial licence being granted, to confirm compliance with fire and general HMO standards, with further inspections in response to complaints or as part of proactive enforcement.
Kitchen, bathroom and amenity standards
- The number of bathrooms, toilets and kitchen facilities required is set by the council based on national guidance and scales with the maximum number of occupants permitted.
- Properties must meet an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of E or above under the national Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) regulations, which Wyre actively checks whenever a tenant complaint is received.
Documents you will need
- 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, rated E or above, for the property.
- Fire risk assessment — Required under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, covering fire detection and escape routes.
Sources
Compiled from the council’s own published pages and documents; data reviewed September 2026. Rules and fees change, so always confirm with Wyre Council before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.