Landlord licensing in Harlow Council

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

Harlow Council operates an additional licensing scheme for all Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) with three or four tenants forming two or more households. This scheme covers the entire district. Designations run for up to five years.

Selective licensing

There is currently no selective licensing scheme in operation within the Harlow Council district. Always check the council's website for any new designations before advertising a property.

Towns covered

Harlow

What this means for you

If you let a property in the Harlow Council area, confirm which licensing regime applies to the exact address. Mandatory HMO licensing covers properties let to five or more people forming two or more households. Harlow Council has additional licensing for smaller HMOs across the entire district, requiring a licence for all HMOs with three or four tenants forming two or more households. There is currently no selective licensing in Harlow. The Renters' Rights Act 2025, with main provisions commencing 2026, replaces fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies with periodic assured tenancies and ends section 21 no-fault evictions. Keep an evidence pack for every Harlow Council tenancy, including 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, prescribed information, and all required prescribed documents served before the tenancy starts.

Official links

• Licensing pages
• Council website