Landlord licensing in Torfaen Council

Licensing at a glance

HMO licensing

Mandatory HMO licensing applies to larger shared houses across the Torfaen Council area. Landlords and agents must also register with Rent Smart Wales.

Additional licensing

Additional licensing may be in force for smaller HMOs in specific designated areas within Torfaen. This is in addition to Rent Smart Wales registration.

Selective licensing

Selective licensing may apply to all privately rented properties in designated areas within Torfaen, regardless of HMO status. This is in addition to Rent Smart Wales registration.

Towns covered

Torfaen

What this means for you

If you let a property in the Torfaen Council area, first confirm which licensing regime the exact address falls under. Mandatory HMO licensing applies to larger shared houses, and every landlord and agent must also register with Rent Smart Wales. Additional licensing can extend licensing to smaller HMOs in designated areas, on top of Rent Smart Wales duties. Selective licensing may apply in designated areas in addition to Rent Smart Wales licensing. Designations, fees, and boundaries in Wales change regularly, so check the council's own licensing pages before each new tenancy rather than relying on what applied last time. Welsh lets are governed by the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016: occupation contracts, written statements within 14 days, and fitness for human habitation duties including electrical safety and alarms. Maintain a compliance pack for every Torfaen Council tenancy, including a current gas safety record, an EICR no more than five years old, a valid EPC, working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, deposit protection, prescribed information, and all required documents served before the tenancy starts.

Official links

• Licensing pages
• Council website