Landlord licensing in Brentwood Council

Licensing at a glance

HMO licensing

Mandatory HMO licensing applies to properties let to five or more people forming two or more households who share a kitchen, bathroom, or toilet. This is a national requirement.

Additional licensing

Additional licensing can extend licensing to smaller Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) than the mandatory scheme. These designations are determined by Brentwood Council and run for up to five years, often applying to specific areas or property types.

Selective licensing

Selective licensing can require a licence for every private rented home in a designated area, including single-family lets. Brentwood Council can implement these schemes for up to five years. Check the council's website for any current designations.

Towns covered

Brentwood

What this means for you

If you let a property in the Brentwood 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 a new tenancy. The Renters' Rights Act 2025, with main provisions commencing in 2026, replaces fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies with periodic assured tenancies, ends Section 21 no-fault evictions, and introduces a national landlord database and a new housing ombudsman scheme, which landlords must join. Whatever the licensing position, keep the same evidence pack for every Brentwood Council tenancy: a current gas safety record where there is gas, an EICR no more than five years old, 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