Landlord licensing in Braintree 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

Braintree Council does not currently operate an additional licensing scheme for smaller Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs).

Selective licensing

Braintree Council does not currently operate a selective licensing scheme for private rented properties.

Towns covered

Braintree

What this means for you

If you let a property in the Braintree 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 current designations before you advertise. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 (main provisions commence 2026) replaces fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies with periodic assured tenancies and removes the ability to use Section 21 'no-fault' evictions. A national landlord database and ombudsman will also be introduced. Whatever the licensing position, ensure you have a current gas safety record where applicable, 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