Landlord licensing in Wiltshire 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

Wiltshire Council may implement additional licensing schemes for smaller HMOs that are not subject to mandatory licensing. These schemes are typically ward or street-specific and run for up to five years, so check for current designations affecting your property.

Selective licensing

Wiltshire Council may introduce selective licensing schemes requiring all private rented properties, including single-family lets, to be licensed in designated areas. Landlords must check for active selective licensing designations before advertising or letting a property.

Towns covered

Wiltshire

What this means for you

If you let a property in the Wiltshire 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 a kitchen, bathroom, or toilet. Additional licensing can extend licensing to smaller HMOs, and selective licensing can require a licence for every private rented home in a designated area. The Renters' Rights Act 2025, with main provisions commencing in 2026, introduces a national landlord register and an ombudsman. Always check the council's own licensing pages before each new tenancy. Keep a current gas safety record where applicable, 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.