Landlord licensing in Bath and North East Somerset Council

Licensing at a glance

HMO licensing

Mandatory HMO licensing applies to properties let to five or more people who form two or more households and 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

Bath and North East Somerset

What this means for you

If you let a property in the Bath and North East Somerset Council area, first confirm which licensing regime the exact address falls under. Mandatory HMO licensing applies to larger properties. Additional licensing can extend licensing to smaller HMOs, with designations running for up to five years and being ward or street-specific. Selective licensing can require a licence for every private rented home in a designated area, including single-family lets. Always check current designations on the council's own licensing pages. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 introduces periodic assured tenancies, bans Section 21 no-fault evictions, and establishes a national landlord database and ombudsman. For every Bath and North East Somerset Council tenancy, keep an evidence pack: a current gas safety record where gas is present, an EICR no more than five years old, a valid EPC, working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, deposit protection and prescribed information, and all required prescribed documents served before the tenancy starts.

Official links

• Licensing pages
• Council website