Landlord licensing in Babergh Council

Licensing at a glance

HMO licensing

Mandatory HMO licensing applies to any property let to five or more people forming two or more households who share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet.

Additional licensing

Additional licensing can extend licensing to smaller HMOs. Designations run for up to five years and are ward- or street-specific, so confirm the position for the exact address.

Selective licensing

Selective licensing can require a licence for every private rented home in a designated area, including single-family lets. Check the current designations before you advertise.

Towns covered

Babergh

What this means for you

If you let a property in the Babergh Council area, first confirm which licensing regime applies to the exact address. Mandatory HMO licensing covers properties let to five or more people forming two or more households who share facilities. Additional licensing can extend this to smaller HMOs. Selective licensing may require a licence for all private rented homes in designated areas, including single-family lets. Check the council's own licensing pages for current designations, fees, and boundaries before advertising, as these can change. The Renters' Rights Act 2025, with main provisions commencing in 2026, replaces fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies with periodic assured tenancies and ends section 21 no-fault evictions. For every tenancy, ensure you have a current gas safety record, an EICR no more than five years old, a valid EPC, working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, deposit protection with prescribed information, and all required prescribed documents served before the tenancy starts.

Official links

• Licensing pages
• Council website