Landlord licensing in Somerset 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

Somerset Council currently has no additional licensing schemes in operation. If one is introduced, it would extend licensing to smaller HMOs and would be ward or street specific.

Selective licensing

Somerset Council currently has no selective licensing schemes in operation. If one is introduced, it would require a licence for every private rented home in a designated area, including single-family lets.

Towns covered

Somerset

What this means for you

If you let a property in the Somerset 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 licensing to smaller HMOs, and designations are specific to areas. Selective licensing can require a licence for every private rented home in a designated area, including single-family lets. Always check the council's own licensing pages for current designations, fees, and boundaries before each new tenancy. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 introduces periodic assured tenancies and ends section 21 evictions. For every Somerset Council tenancy, keep an evidence pack including 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 prescribed information, and all required prescribed documents served before the tenancy starts.

Official links

• Licensing pages
• Council website