Landlord licensing in Spelthorne 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 toilet, bathroom or cooking facilities.

Additional licensing

Additional licensing can extend licensing to smaller HMOs. Designations run for up to five years and are ward- or street-specific, so confirm the position for the exact address.

Selective licensing

Selective licensing can require a licence for every private rented home in a designated area, including single-family lets. Check the current designations before you advertise.

Towns covered

Spelthorne

What this means for you

If you let a property in the Spelthorne Council area, your 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 basic amenities. Additional licensing can extend licensing to smaller HMOs. These designations run for up to five years and can be ward- or street-specific, so always confirm the position for the exact address. Selective licensing can require a licence for every private rented home in a designated area, including single-family lets. Check the current designations before you advertise. Designations, fees and boundaries in South East England can change, so always check the council's own licensing pages before each new tenancy rather than relying on previous information. All tenancies starting from 2026 are periodic, not fixed-term. Whatever the licensing position, maintain the same evidence pack for every Spelthorne Council tenancy: a current gas safety record where applicable, an EICR no more than five years old, a valid EPC, working smoke alarms, and carbon monoxide alarms in any room used as living accommodation containing a fixed combustion appliance. Also ensure deposit protection with prescribed information and that all required prescribed documents are served before the tenancy starts, including the latest How to Rent Guide.

Official links

• Licensing pages
• Council website