Landlord licensing in Chichester Council
South East · England
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
- 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
- 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.
- Typical fees
- Mandatory HMO licence fees can be found on the council's website. There are currently no additional or selective licensing schemes in operation, so no associated fees are being charged; however, if introduced, these schemes would incur fees.
- Towns covered
- Chichester
What this means for you
If you let a property in the Chichester Council area, the first step 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, 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 ombudsman which will be fully operational. Whatever the licensing position, landlords and agents must ensure compliance with gas safety regulations, electrical safety standards (EICR), EPC requirements, smoke and carbon monoxide alarm provisions, deposit protection, and prescribed information and documents served before the tenancy starts.
Official links
Licensing designations, fees and boundaries change regularly. This page is a general summary, not legal advice — always confirm the position for the exact address with Chichester Council before letting. Last reviewed 1 October 2026.