Landlord licensing in Elmbridge 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 can extend licensing to smaller HMOs. Designations run for up to five years and may be 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 a property.

Towns covered

Elmbridge

What this means for you

If you let a property in the Elmbridge Council area, confirm which licensing regime the exact address falls under. Mandatory HMO licensing applies to larger shared homes. Additional licensing can extend this to smaller HMOs, and selective licensing can require a licence for every private rented home in a designated area. Designations and boundaries can change, so check the council's own licensing pages before each new tenancy. The Renters' Rights Act 2025, with main provisions commencing in 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. Maintain an evidence pack for every Elmbridge tenancy including a current gas safety record, an EICR no more than five years old, a valid EPC, working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, deposit protection and prescribed information, and all required prescribed documents served before the tenancy starts.

Official links

• Licensing pages
• Council website