Landlord licensing in Sevenoaks 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

Sevenoaks Council does not currently operate an additional licensing scheme for smaller HMOs. Always check the council's official licensing pages for the most up-to-date information.

Selective licensing

Sevenoaks Council does not currently operate a selective licensing scheme in any areas. Always check the council's official licensing pages for the most up-to-date information.

Towns covered

Sevenoaks

What this means for you

If you let a property in the Sevenoaks Council area, the first step is to 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 a kitchen, bathroom or toilet. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 (main provisions commencing 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, keep the same evidence pack for every Sevenoaks 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, and the required prescribed documents served before the tenancy starts.

Official links

• Licensing pages
• Council website