Landlord licensing in North Devon 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 facilities like a kitchen or bathroom. North Devon Council may also have additional licensing schemes.

Additional licensing

North Devon Council may designate areas for additional licensing, extending requirements to smaller HMOs not covered by mandatory licensing. These designations run for up to five years and can be ward- or street-specific. Landlords should confirm the position for the exact address.

Selective licensing

North Devon Council may implement selective licensing schemes, requiring a licence for every private rented home in a designated area, including single-family lets. Landlords must check for current designations before advertising a property.

Towns covered

North Devon

What this means for you

If you let a property in the North Devon Council area, first confirm which licensing regime the exact address falls under. Mandatory HMO licensing applies to any property let to five or more people forming two or more households who share facilities. Additional licensing can extend this to smaller HMOs. Selective licensing can require a licence for every private rented home in designated areas, including single-family lets. Check current designations, fees, and boundaries on the council's own licensing pages before each new tenancy. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 replaces fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies with periodic assured tenancies, ends section 21 no-fault evictions, and introduces a national landlord database and ombudsman. Ensure you have a current gas safety record where applicable, an EICR no more than five years old, a valid EPC, working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, deposit protection with prescribed information, and all required prescribed documents served before the tenancy starts.

Official links

• Licensing pages
• Council website