Landlord licensing in Bedford Council

Licensing at a glance

HMO licensing

Mandatory HMO licensing applies to all HMOs occupied by five or more persons forming two or more separate households.

Additional licensing

Bedford Council has an Additional HMO licensing scheme for HMOs occupied by three or four tenants forming two or more households. This scheme began on 1 November 2023 and runs for five years.

Selective licensing

Bedford Council does not currently have any selective licensing schemes in operation.

Towns covered

Bedford

What this means for you

If you let a property in the Bedford Council area, the first job is to confirm which licensing regime the exact address falls under. 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 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 can require a licence for every private rented home in a designated area, including single-family lets. Check the current designations before you advertise. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 (main provisions commenced 2026) replaced assured shorthold tenancies with periodic assured tenancies and ended section 21 no-fault evictions. Whatever the licensing position, keep an evidence pack for every tenancy: a current gas safety record where there is gas, an EICR that is in date and shows a 'satisfactory' rating, a valid EPC, working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, deposit protection and prescribed information, and the required prescribed documents served before the tenancy starts.

Official links

• Licensing pages
• Council website