Landlord licensing in Test Valley Council

Licensing at a glance

HMO licensing

Mandatory HMO licensing applies to properties let to five or more tenants forming two or more households who share facilities like a kitchen or bathroom. Test Valley Council does not currently have any Additional HMO licensing schemes in place.

Additional licensing

Test Valley Council does not currently operate any Additional Licensing schemes. Always check the council's website for the most current information.

Selective licensing

Test Valley Council currently does not operate any Selective Licensing schemes requiring all private rented properties in a designated area to be licensed. Always check the council's website for the most current information.

Typical fees

Test Valley Council's website does not provide a general list of licence fees without initiating an application. Licence fees for Mandatory HMOs are determined during the application process.

Towns covered

Test Valley

What this means for you

If you let a property in the Test Valley 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. Test Valley Council does not currently operate Additional or Selective Licensing schemes, but it is always wise to check the council's website for any updates. The Renters' Rights Act 2025, with 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. Ensure you have a current gas safety record where gas is present, 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