Landlord licensing in East Hampshire Council

Licensing at a glance

HMO licensing

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

Additional licensing

East Hampshire Council does not currently operate an additional licensing scheme for smaller HMOs.

Selective licensing

East Hampshire Council does not currently operate a selective licensing scheme.

Towns covered

East Hampshire

What this means for you

If you let a property in the East Hampshire Council area, your first step is to confirm which licensing regime applies to the exact address. 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 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 current designations before you advertise. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 (main provisions commenced 2026) replaces fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies with periodic assured tenancies and ends Section 21 no-fault evictions. It also introduces a national landlord database and ombudsman. Regardless of the licensing position, maintain the same evidence pack for every East Hampshire Council 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 the required prescribed documents served before the tenancy starts.

Official links

• Licensing pages
• Council website