Landlord licensing in West Suffolk Council

Licensing at a glance

HMO licensing

Mandatory HMO licensing applies to properties let to five or more people forming two or more households who share facilities like a kitchen, bathroom or toilet.

Additional licensing

Additional licensing extends HMO licensing beyond the mandatory scheme to smaller HMOs or specific property types. Designations can cover particular areas or property categories, running for up to five years.

Selective licensing

Selective licensing requires all privately rented properties in a designated area, including single-family lets, to be licensed. Always check the council's current designations for scheme boundaries and conditions.

Typical fees

West Suffolk Council does not publish a consolidated list of licence fees. Fees vary depending on the type of licence and the specific scheme. Please refer to the council's individual licensing scheme pages for current fee information.

Towns covered

West Suffolk

What this means for you

If you let a property in the West Suffolk Council area, first confirm which licensing regime applies to the exact address. Mandatory HMO licensing applies to larger HMOs. Additional licensing can extend licensing to smaller HMOs. Selective licensing can require a licence for every private rented home in a designated area. Check the council's own licensing pages for current designations, fees, and boundaries. All private rented tenancies require certain documents: a current gas safety record, an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) no more than five years old, a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, deposit protection and prescribed information. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 also introduces specific requirements for landlords regarding property conditions and tenant communications.

Official links

• Licensing pages
• Council website