Landlord licensing in Cornwall Council
South West · England
Licensing at a glance
- HMO licensing
- Mandatory HMO licensing applies to properties with five or more tenants from two or more households, sharing a kitchen, bathroom, or toilet.
- Additional licensing
- Cornwall Council may introduce additional licensing designations to extend licensing to smaller HMOs, such as those with three or four tenants. These designations typically run for up to five years, so check if any apply to your property's location.
- Selective licensing
- Cornwall Council can designate areas for selective licensing, requiring all privately rented properties within that area, including single-family lets, to be licensed. Always check the council's website for current designations.
- Typical fees
- Cornwall Council publishes its licence fees on its website. Fees can vary depending on the type of licence and the application process. Refer to the council's licensing pages for the most up-to-date information.
- Towns covered
- Cornwall
What this means for you
If you let a property in the Cornwall 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 if a designation is in force. Selective licensing can require a licence for every private rented home in a designated area, including single-family lets. Always check the current designations and criteria for the specific address. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 (main provisions commencing 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. Whatever the licensing position, maintain the required documentation for every tenancy: a current gas safety record where gas is present, an EICR no more than five years old, a valid EPC, working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, deposit protection and prescribed information, and all other prescribed 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 Cornwall Council before letting. Last reviewed 1 October 2026.