Landlord licensing in Dartford Council

Licensing at a glance

HMO licensing

Mandatory HMO licensing applies to any property let to three or more people forming two or more households who share a kitchen, bathroom, or toilet. This is a national scheme.

Additional licensing

Dartford Council currently operates an additional licensing scheme for HMOs occupied by three or four people forming two or more households in specific designated areas. Landlords must check the council's website for current designations and street lists to determine if their property requires a licence.

Selective licensing

Dartford Council currently operates selective licensing in specific designated areas. This scheme requires all privately rented properties in the designated areas, including those let to a single family, to be licensed. Landlords must check the council's website for the latest designations.

Typical fees

Mandatory HMO Licence fees are estimated at £840. Additional HMO Licence fees are estimated at £840. Selective Licence fees are estimated at £840. Discounts may apply for accredited landlords. Landlords should confirm current fees on the council's website.

Towns covered

Dartford

What this means for you

If you let a property in the Dartford 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 three 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 can be 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 (main provisions commenced 2026) replaced fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies with periodic assured tenancies, ended section 21 no-fault evictions, and introduced a national landlord database and ombudsman which are now operational. Whatever the licensing position, keep the same evidence pack for every Dartford 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