Landlord licensing in Dorset Council
South West · 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
- Dorset Council charges fees for all licence applications. These vary depending on the type of licence, the size of the property, and whether the applicant is a member of an approved accreditation scheme. Please refer to the council's official licensing pages for the most current fee structure.
- Towns covered
- Dorset
What this means for you
If you let a property in the Dorset Council area, first 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. Designations, fees and boundaries change regularly, so check the council's own licensing pages before each new tenancy. 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, keep the same evidence pack for every Dorset 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 designations, fees and boundaries change regularly. This page is a general summary, not legal advice — always confirm the position for the exact address with Dorset Council before letting. Last reviewed 1 October 2026.