Landlord licensing in Hastings 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. Hastings Council charges an application fee.

Additional licensing

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

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

Mandatory HMO Licence fees are £600 for a new application and £500 for a renewal. Fees for additional or selective licensing schemes may vary.

Towns covered

Hastings

What this means for you

If you let a property in the Hastings Council area, the first job is to confirm which licensing regime the exact address falls under. Mandatory HMO licensing applies to larger HMOs. Additional licensing can extend licensing to smaller HMOs, and selective licensing can require a licence for every private rented home in a designated area. Designations run for up to five years and can be ward- or street-specific, so check the council's current designations and boundaries before advertising. 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, landlords must always provide 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 required prescribed documents before the tenancy starts.

Official links

• Licensing pages
• Council website