Landlord licensing in Folkestone and Hythe Council
South East · 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 extends licensing to smaller HMOs. Designations run for up to five years and are ward or street specific; 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
- Folkestone and Hythe Council do not publish their licence fees online, but you must pay a fee to apply for a licence. There may be discounts for early applications or accredited landlords.
- Towns covered
- Folkestone and Hythe
What this means for you
If you let a property in the Folkestone and Hythe 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 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 in the South East change regularly, so check the council's own licensing pages before each new tenancy. Whatever the licensing position, landlords must keep the required evidence pack for every Folkestone and Hythe 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 all other 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 Folkestone and Hythe Council before letting. Last reviewed 1 October 2026.