HMO licensing in Wyre Forest

Wyre Forest 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.

The published fee for a new HMO licence is £880. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.

The council charges a reduced fee of £880.00 where a full, valid HMO licence application is received in good time with complete information, reflecting the reduced officer time needed. Where an application is incomplete and requires follow-up and resubmission, an additional charge of £280.00 applies, bringing the total to £1,160.00. No fee should be paid until instructed by the council. A distinct renewal fee is not separately published; contact the Private Sector Housing Team to confirm current renewal costs.

Check the current fee on the council website (wyreforestdc.gov.uk) before you apply.

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 detection and alarm requirements scale with the type and size of the property, from interlinked smoke alarms with additional kitchen/lounge detection in smaller shared houses, up to full LD2 coverage with detectors in all risk rooms for larger or bedsit-type HMOs.
• Fire doors (typically FD30) are required on escape routes and to risk rooms, fitted with self-closing devices and intumescent seals.
• Kitchens require a fire blanket and a dry powder extinguisher; circulation areas require a water extinguisher per 200 sqm or one per floor.
• A fire risk assessment under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is the landlord's responsibility, and the council can request it at any time.

• One kitchen is required per 5 adult occupants (or a separate kitchen within individual units), with a sink, worktop, cooking facilities and storage; larger communal kitchens must provide equivalent amenities.
• One bath or shower and one WC are required per 5 occupants where facilities are shared, each within 20m travel distance of bedrooms, with permanent hot and cold water supply.
• A suitable heating system must be able to heat rooms to 18°C when it is -1°C outside; roof spaces should have a minimum of 270mm mineral wool insulation (or equivalent).
• No two persons of the opposite sex aged 11 or over may share a bedroom unless they are married or cohabiting adults.

• Gas safety certificate (CP12) — Annual Gas Safe check for every gas appliance on the property (a national HMO management requirement).
• EICR — Electrical Installation Condition Report, generally required at least every 5 years under national private rented sector electrical safety regulations.
• EPC — Valid Energy Performance Certificate for the property, required under national minimum energy efficiency standards.
• Fire risk assessment — Current written fire risk assessment for the property.
• DBS/personal check — Basic Disclosure and Barring Service check or equivalent personal check, submitted with the licence application, as part of the council's fit-and-proper-person test.

• wyreforestdc.gov.uk
• wyreforestdc.gov.uk

Compiled from the council’s own published pages and documents; data reviewed September 2026. Rules and fees change, so always confirm with Wyre Forest District Council before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.