Landlord licensing in Thanet 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 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.

Typical fees

Mandatory HMO licence fee is £655 for a five-year licence, with a £100 discount for accredited landlords. An Additional HMO licence costs £625, with a £100 discount for accredited landlords.

Towns covered

Thanet

What this means for you

If you let a property in the Thanet Council area, the first step is to confirm which licensing regime applies to the exact address. Mandatory HMO licensing covers properties let to five or more people forming two or more households who share facilities. Additional licensing can extend this requirement to smaller HMOs, with designations running for up to five years and being ward- or street-specific. Selective licensing may require a licence for every private rented home in a designated area, including single-family lets. Always check current designations. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 (main provisions commencing 2026) replaces fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies with periodic assured tenancies and introduces a national landlord database and ombudsman. Landlords and agents must maintain 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 serve all required prescribed documents before the tenancy starts.

Official links

• Licensing pages
• Council website