Landlord licensing in Hastings 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. Hastings Council charges an application fee.
- Additional licensing
- Additional licensing can extend licensing to smaller HMOs, usually those with three or four tenants. 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, as schemes can be ward or street specific.
- Typical fees
- Mandatory HMO Licence fees typically involve an application fee. Fees for additional or selective licensing schemes may vary. Please consult the council's licensing page for the most current fee structure.
- Towns covered
- Hastings
What this means for you
If you let a property in the Hastings Council area, first 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. 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 designations, fees and boundaries change regularly. This page is a general summary, not legal advice — always confirm the position for the exact address with Hastings Council before letting. Last reviewed 1 October 2026.