Landlord licensing in Swindon Council

Licensing at a glance

HMO licensing

Mandatory HMO licensing applies to properties with five or more occupiers forming two or more households who share kitchen, bathroom or toilet facilities. This is a national requirement.

Additional licensing

Swindon Council may implement additional licensing schemes for smaller HMOs not covered by mandatory licensing. These schemes are ward or street-specific, so check the precise address.

Selective licensing

Swindon Council may implement selective licensing schemes, requiring all private rented homes in a designated area to be licensed, including single-family lets. Check current designations on the council's website.

Typical fees

Mandatory HMO Licence: £600 for a five-year licence. Additional HMO Licence: £600 for a five-year licence. A discount is available for accredited landlords; check the council's website for the specific amount.

Towns covered

Swindon

What this means for you

If you let a property in the Swindon 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, with designations running for up to five years and being ward or street-specific. Selective licensing can require a licence for every private rented home in designated areas, including single-family lets. Check the current designations before advertising. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 replaces fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies with periodic assured tenancies and ends section 21 no-fault evictions. Keep an evidence pack for every Swindon tenancy: 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 the required prescribed documents served before the tenancy starts.

Official links

• Licensing pages
• Council website