Landlord licensing in Cardiff Council

Licensing at a glance

HMO licensing

Mandatory. Properties occupied by five or more persons forming two or more households require a mandatory HMO licence from Cardiff Council.

Additional licensing

Yes - designated areas. Additional licensing schemes may apply to HMOs not subject to mandatory licensing in specific areas of Cardiff, such as Cathays and Plasnewydd.

Selective licensing

No. Selective licensing schemes are not currently in operation in Cardiff. All landlords must, however, be registered and comply with Rent Smart Wales requirements, which is enforced by Rent Smart Wales, not the council.

Typical fees

Mandatory HMO licence from approximately £1,100, paid to Cardiff Council. Rent Smart Wales registration fees are separate and paid directly to Rent Smart Wales.

Towns covered

Cardiff, Cathays, Roath, Grangetown

What this means for you

If you let a property in Cardiff Council, check whether it falls inside a licensing designation before you advertise it. Licensable properties let without a licence can lead to a civil penalty of up to £30,000 per offence and a rent repayment order for up to 12 months of rent. All landlords must register with Rent Smart Wales and comply with their training requirements. You must keep gas, electrical and EPC certificates current, and store the licence with your compliance records. Confirm the licensing status by postcode on the council website before letting.

Official links

• Licensing pages
• Council website