Do I need an HMO licence in St Helens? (2026)
Last updated 2026-06-20
In St Helens, an HMO licence is required where a property is let to 5 or more people forming 2 or more separate households who share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet. St Helens runs mandatory HMO licensing only, so a licence is required for larger HMOs above the mandatory threshold. The council fee is £1,240 and St Helens typically processes applications in around 12 weeks. Get HMO Licence completes and submits the whole application for £599.
Check & start my St Helens application — £599
- Licence needed?
- Yes, where a property is let to 5 or more people forming 2 or more separate households who share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet
- Schemes in operation
- Mandatory licensing
- Council fee
- £1,240
- Processing time
- 12 weeks
- Article 4
- check with St Helens
How much does an HMO licence cost in St Helens?
The council fee for an HMO licence in St Helens is £1,240, with our done-for-you service at £599.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Council fee — on application (Part A) | check with St Helens |
| Council fee — on grant (Part B) | check with St Helens |
| Council fee — total (paid to the council) | £1,240 |
| Get HMO Licence — we do it for you | £599 |
| Measured floor plan where the council requires a scaled plan | Price on request |
| Fire risk assessment where required for the licence | Price on request |
Verified 2026-06-20
The council’s own fee is paid directly to the council — we add no markup.
Scheme types in St Helens
- Mandatory HMO licensing applies to larger HMOs (5 or more people forming 2 or more separate households who share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet).
Article 4 directions in St Helens
Article 4 status — check with St Helens.
Local rules in St Helens
- Per-annum fee model: £248/year for 2026/27, paid annually over the 5-year licence (~£1,240 total).
- No Part A/B split; flat annual rate (2025/26 was £239).
- No additional or selective scheme.
How long does it take in St Helens?
St Helens typically processes HMO licence applications in around 12 weeks.
Frequently asked questions
How much is an HMO licence in St Helens?
The council fee for an HMO licence in St Helens is £1,240. Get HMO Licence completes and submits the application for £599.
How long does an HMO licence take in St Helens?
St Helens typically processes HMO licence applications in around 12 weeks.
Does St Helens have additional or selective licensing?
St Helens operates mandatory HMO licensing. Check with St Helens for any additional or selective schemes.
Can Get HMO Licence apply for my St Helens HMO licence for me?
Yes. Get HMO Licence completes and submits your St Helens HMO licence application for £599, with the council fee paid directly to St Helens.
Renting a shared home in St Helens? You may need an HMO licence.
Operating an unlicensed HMO risks a civil penalty of up to £40,000 per offence, plus a Rent Repayment Order of up to 24 months’ rent (Renters' Rights Act 2025).
We handle the whole application for £599.
Doing it yourself is the best part of a day — chasing certificates and decoding your council’s forms. We give you that day back: about five minutes from you, and we handle the rest.
Start my St Helens application — £599What you get
- Your day back — about five minutes of input from you, not a day of paperwork
- We complete and submit the full application to your council
- All the right forms for your council’s scheme
- A document checklist so nothing is missed
- A specialist review before submission
- Email support throughout
The council’s own fee (around £1,240) is paid directly to the council — no markup.
If we make an error that gets your application rejected as incomplete, we fix it free. We can never guarantee a licence. That decision is the council’s.
Secure payment via Stripe.
Prefer we call you and take it from here?
Leave your details — no payment to enquire — and we’ll confirm St Helens’s scheme and handle the whole application for you.
Prefer to DIY? St Helens HMO register →