Landlord licensing in Wokingham 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 a kitchen, bathroom or toilet. Wokingham Council does not currently operate an Article 4 direction requiring planning permission for smaller HMOs.

Additional licensing

Wokingham Council has not implemented an additional licensing scheme for smaller HMOs as of 2026. However, such schemes can be introduced and run for up to five years, often being ward- or street-specific. Always check the current position for any specific address.

Selective licensing

Wokingham Council has not implemented any selective licensing schemes as of 2026. Selective licensing can require a licence for every private rented home in a designated area, including single-family lets. Always check the current designations before you advertise a property.

Towns covered

Wokingham

What this means for you

If you let a property in the Wokingham Council area, first confirm which licensing regime applies to the exact address. Mandatory HMO licensing applies to larger properties. Additional licensing can extend this to smaller HMOs, and selective licensing may require a licence for every private rented home in designated areas. Check current designations before advertising. Landlords must keep an evidence pack for every Wokingham Council tenancy: 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 pages
• Council website