Landlord licensing in Merthyr Tydfil Council

Licensing at a glance

HMO licensing

Mandatory HMO licensing applies to larger shared houses, those occupied by five or more persons forming two or more households. Every landlord and agent must also register and be licensed to self-manage with Rent Smart Wales.

Additional licensing

Merthyr Tydfil Council currently does not operate an additional licensing scheme. If they introduce one, it would apply to specific types of smaller HMOs in designated areas, on top of Rent Smart Wales duties.

Selective licensing

Merthyr Tydfil Council currently does not operate a selective licensing scheme. If they introduce one, it would apply to all privately rented properties in designated areas, in addition to Rent Smart Wales licensing.

Typical fees

Mandatory HMO license fees are set by Merthyr Tydfil Council. Rent Smart Wales registration and licensing fees are set by Rent Smart Wales. Check the respective websites for current fee schedules.

Towns covered

Merthyr Tydfil

What this means for you

If you let a property in the Merthyr Tydfil Council area, the first job is to confirm which licensing regime the exact address falls under. Mandatory HMO licensing applies to larger shared houses, and every landlord and agent must also register and be licensed to self-manage with Rent Smart Wales. Additional licensing can extend licensing to smaller HMOs in designated areas, on top of Rent Smart Wales duties. Selective licensing may apply in designated areas in addition to Rent Smart Wales licensing. Designations, fees and boundaries in Wales change regularly, so check the council's own licensing pages before each new tenancy rather than relying on what applied last time. Welsh lets are governed by the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016: occupation contracts, written statements within 14 days, and fitness for human habitation duties including electrical safety and alarms. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 also introduces new requirements for all properties in Wales. Whatever the licensing position, keep the same evidence pack for every Merthyr Tydfil 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, the written statement, and the required prescribed documents served before the tenancy starts.

Official links

• Licensing pages
• Council website