Landlord licensing in Winchester Council
South East · England
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
- Additional licensing can extend licensing to smaller HMOs. Designations run for up to five years and are ward- or street-specific, so confirm the position for the exact address.
- Selective licensing
- Selective licensing can require a licence for every private rented home in a designated area, including single-family lets. Check the current designations before you advertise.
- Typical fees
- Winchester City Council charges £665 for a new mandatory HMO licence, with a discount of £100 for accredited landlords. Renewals cost £500, with a £100 discount for accredited landlords. Additional and selective licensing fees may vary based on designation.
- Towns covered
- Winchester
What this means for you
If you let a property in the Winchester City Council area, the first step 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 a kitchen, bathroom or toilet. Additional licensing can extend licensing to smaller HMOs. Selective licensing can require a licence for every private rented home in a designated area, including single-family lets. Always check the council's own licensing pages for current designations, fees, and boundaries, as these can change. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 (main provisions commencing 2026) replaces fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies with periodic assured tenancies, ends Section 21 no-fault evictions, and introduces a national landlord database and ombudsman. For every tenancy, keep an evidence pack 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 and prescribed information, and all required prescribed documents served before the tenancy starts.
Official links
Licensing designations, fees and boundaries change regularly. This page is a general summary, not legal advice — always confirm the position for the exact address with Winchester Council before letting. Last reviewed 1 October 2026.