Landlord licensing in Bridgend Council

Licensing at a glance

HMO licensing

Mandatory HMO licensing applies to larger shared houses (typically three or more storeys and five or more unrelated occupiers) across Wales. Landlords must obtain an HMO licence from Bridgend Council for these properties, in addition to registering with Rent Smart Wales and being licensed to self-manage or use a licensed agent.

Additional licensing

Bridgend Council may introduce additional licensing schemes for smaller HMOs, or other types of rented properties, in specific areas. These schemes require a property-specific licence from the council in addition to Rent Smart Wales registration.

Selective licensing

Bridgend Council may introduce selective licensing schemes for all private rental properties in designated areas. These schemes require a property-specific licence from the council in addition to Rent Smart Wales registration.

Typical fees

Licence fees vary depending on the scheme and property type. Always check the latest fees directly on the Bridgend Council licensing pages. Fees for Rent Smart Wales registration and licensing are separate.

Towns covered

Bridgend

What this means for you

If you let a property in the Bridgend Council area, the first step is to confirm which licensing regime the exact address falls under. Mandatory HMO licensing applies to larger shared houses, and every landlord and agent must also register with Rent Smart Wales, and be licensed to self-manage or use a licensed agent. Additional licensing can extend licensing to smaller HMOs in designated areas, on top of Rent Smart Wales duties. Selective licensing may apply in designated areas in addition to Rent Smart Wales licensing. Designations, fees, and boundaries in Wales change regularly, so check the council's own licensing pages before each new tenancy rather than relying on what applied last time. Welsh lets are governed by the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016: occupation contracts, written statements within 14 days, and fitness for human habitation duties including electrical safety and alarms. Whatever the licensing position, keep the same evidence pack for every Bridgend 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