Landlord licensing in Isle of Wight 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

The council may implement additional licensing, extending the requirement to smaller HMOs. Such designations can be authority-wide or apply to specific areas for up to five years. Check the council's website for current schemes.

Selective licensing

The council may introduce selective licensing, requiring a licence for all private rented homes in a designated area, including single-family lets. These designations can be authority-wide or area-specific and run for up to five years. Check the council's website for current schemes before advertising.

Typical fees

Licence fees vary depending on the type of licence and the size of the property. Contact the council directly or check their website for current fee schedules.

Towns covered

Isle of Wight

What this means for you

If you let a property in the Isle of Wight Council area, first confirm which licensing regime applies to the exact address. Mandatory HMO licensing applies to properties let to five or more people forming two or more households who share facilities. Additional licensing can extend this to smaller HMOs, and selective licensing can require a licence for all private rented homes in a designated area. Check current designations on the council's website. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 replaces fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies with periodic assured tenancies and ends section 21 no-fault evictions. Regardless of licensing, maintain an evidence pack for every tenancy: 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 all required prescribed documents served before the tenancy starts.

Official links

• Licensing pages
• Council website