Landlord licensing in Waverley 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. This is a national requirement, not specific to Waverley Council.

Additional licensing

Additional licensing schemes can be designated by Waverley Council for other types of HMOs not covered by mandatory licensing. These schemes are ward or street-specific and run for up to five years, so confirm the position for the exact address.

Selective licensing

Selective licensing schemes can be designated by Waverley Council requiring every private rented home in a designated area, including single-family lets, to be licensed. Check current designations and scheme boundaries before you advertise a property.

Typical fees

Waverley Council charges fees for HMO licences. These are typically paid in stages, with an application fee and a final grant fee. Fees vary depending on the type of licence and property. Check the council's licensing webpage for current rates.

Towns covered

Waverley

What this means for you

If you let a property in the Waverley Council area, the first job 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 facilities. Additional licensing can extend licensing to smaller HMOs if the council has designated a scheme. Selective licensing can require a licence for every private rented home in a designated area, including single-family lets. Check current designations before advertising. Whatever the licensing position, maintain the same evidence pack for every Waverley Council tenancy: a current gas safety record where there is gas, an EICR no more than five years old, a valid EPC, working smoke alarms on each storey, working carbon monoxide alarms in any room with a fixed combustion appliance, deposit protection and prescribed information, and all required prescribed documents served before the tenancy starts.

Official links

• Licensing pages
• Council website