Landlord licensing in East Cambridgeshire Council

Licensing at a glance

HMO licensing

Mandatory HMO licensing applies to properties let to five or more people forming two or more households who share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet.

Additional licensing

Additional licensing schemes 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 schemes can require a licence for every private rented home in a designated area, including single-family lets. Always check the current designations for a property before advertising.

Towns covered

East Cambridgeshire

What this means for you

If you let a property in the East Cambridgeshire Council area, confirm which licensing regime the exact address falls under. Mandatory HMO licensing applies to properties let to five or more people forming two or more households. Additional licensing can extend licensing to smaller HMOs, with designations running for up to five years and often being ward- or street-specific. Selective licensing can require a licence for every private rented home in a designated area, including single-family lets. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 (main provisions commence 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 a consistent evidence pack for every East Cambridgeshire 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