Landlord licensing in Tonbridge and Malling 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

Tonbridge and Malling Council does not currently operate an additional licensing scheme for smaller Houses in Multiple Occupation. This may change, so landlords should check the council's website regularly. Designations can run for up to five years and are ward- or street-specific.

Selective licensing

Tonbridge and Malling Council does not currently operate a selective licensing scheme. This means individual private rented homes, including single-family lets, do not require a licence unless they are also an HMO subject to mandatory licensing. Check the council's website for any future scheme designations.

Towns covered

Tonbridge and Malling

What this means for you

If you let a property in the Tonbridge and Malling 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 selective licensing can require a licence for every private rented home in a designated area, including single-family lets. Check the council's current designations and scheme boundaries. The Renters' Rights Act 2025, with main provisions commencing in 2026, replaces fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies with periodic assured tenancies and ends section 21 no-fault evictions. It also introduces a national landlord database and ombudsman. Ensure you provide a current gas safety record where there is gas, 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