East of England · Council licensing
Landlord licensing in Norwich
✓ Hand-verified 19 Aug 2026Beyond mandatory HMO licensing, Norwich does not currently operate a selective or additional licensing scheme. Here's the current position.
Required for any HMO let to 5 or more people forming 2+ households who share facilities.
Paid in two parts — one on application, the balance before the licence is issued, and the licence lasts 5 years.
| On application | £636 |
| On grant | £505 |
| Total | £1,141 |
Norwich — council's own published fees, read, read 19 Aug 2026
Evidenced negative by enumeration (first-party research 19 Aug 2026): the council HMO licensing page states "You must get a licence if: There are 5 or more tenants forming 2 or more households" and presents mandatory licensing as the only licensing operating. An earlier version of norwich.gov.uk/HMO carried the sentence "The council does not operate additional or selective licensing"; that page has since been rewritten around the Renters' Rights Act and no longer contains it. The consultation that closed 25 March 2022 concerned HMO licence term length (1 year to up to 5 years), not a designation. No s.80 designation or formal proposal appears on the council domain. a wider private rented sector review is reported to be underway; watch the Norwich cabinet and scrutiny portal.
Evidenced negative by enumeration (first-party research 19 Aug 2026): the council HMO licensing page sets the threshold at 5 or more tenants forming 2 or more households and names no s.56 additional designation. Fee quoted verbatim: "The total cost is £1,141, split into two payments: £636 when you apply (non-refundable); £505 after your application is processed (covers a 5-year licence). Fees are reviewed yearly and may change with inflation." the explicit "does not operate additional or selective licensing" sentence was removed in a page rewrite, so re-read the hub at the next refresh.
Common questions
Does Norwich have a selective licensing scheme?
No. Norwich does not currently operate a selective licensing scheme. Mandatory HMO licensing still applies wherever a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households.
Does Norwich have an additional HMO licensing scheme?
No. Norwich does not currently operate an additional HMO licensing scheme. Mandatory HMO licensing still applies wherever a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households.
Do I need an HMO licence in Norwich?
A mandatory HMO licence is required anywhere in England and Wales, including Norwich, where a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households who share basic amenities. Smaller shared houses may also need a licence where an additional licensing scheme applies.
- Free landlord compliance check — five questions, no account
- Tenancy agreement checker — findings cited to the Act and section
All property licensing in East of England →
Source: Norwich licensing page →
Every landlord in Norwich also needs
A valid Gas Safety certificate (annual), an EICR (every 5 years), a valid EPC, a protected deposit, smoke & CO alarms, the Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet, and a current How to Rent guide — plus the new Section 8 possession rules since Section 21 was abolished on 1 May 2026.
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