South East
We currently show scheme records, official links, and supporting research for this council.
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This page includes the scheme records we currently hold, but council policies and boundaries can change. Treat it as a researched starting point and verify the latest position on the official council pages before acting.
Based on publicly available information, we show the licensing status we currently hold for Arun, highlight mandatory HMO rules, and link you to official council sources for verification where we currently have them.
Confirm the current scheme boundary, licence fee, exemptions, application route, and any recent policy changes on the council website before making decisions.
Our current data is based on publicly available information. Always verify the latest licensing position, scheme boundaries, fees, and exemptions with Arun.
We research council licensing information from public sources and present it as general guidance. We do not replace the council's own licensing pages or legal advice.
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This page may already answer a lot of the question. Use the paid products only if you want a quicker written summary, a more risk-focused view, or ongoing monitoring.
Property Licensing Check
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A concise written review for one property, postcode, or council situation based on current public council-source information.
Best for: Best for landlords, agents, and buyers who want written clarity quickly on one case.
Delivery: Concise report by email, usually within 2 working days
Licensing Due Diligence Report
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A more tailored, more decision-oriented, and more risk-focused review for higher-stakes property decisions.
Best for: Best for buyers, investors, agents, landlords refinancing, and conveyancers handling material decisions.
Delivery: Analyst-reviewed report with stronger risk framing
Alerts and monitoring
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A lighter monitoring tier for selected councils or areas, aimed at landlords and smaller investors who want ongoing updates.
Best for: Best for landlords and smaller investors who want ongoing updates without building their own tracking process.
Delivery: Monthly monitoring and change alerts
These options are designed to save research time, improve clarity, and support decision-making. Final reliance should still be tied back to the relevant council and, where necessary, professional advice.
Enter a postcode to see whether it appears to fall within a licensing scheme area, then verify the result with the council.
Additional licensing for HMOs occupied by three or more persons comprising two or more households (i.e. smaller HMOs with three or four occupants not captured by mandatory licensing), and Section 257 HMOs (converted buildings where two or more flats share communal parts and the conversion did not meet the relevant Building Regulations, and fewer than two-thirds are owner-occupied). The scheme covers three specific wards: River Ward in Littlehampton, and Hotham Ward and Marine Ward in Bognor Regis. These areas were designated following evidence of higher levels of disrepair, lower maintenance standards, increased safety hazards and poorer overall management in their rental stock.
Full Council resolved on 10 January 2024 to designate the three wards following recommendations from the Environment Committee and Policy and Finance Committee. The formal Designation was made on 1 November 2024 under section 56(1) of the Housing Act 2004. Online applications opened 17 December 2024. The scheme came into force 1 February 2025. The scheme was preceded by a public consultation in 2023; the consultation results and feedback report are published at arun.gov.uk/hmo-results. In December 2024, Mr Sebastian Orszak was prosecuted at Crawley Magistrates' Court (guilty plea) for operating an unlicensed HMO and ordered to pay £562 (fine £223, victim surcharge £89, council costs £250). This was the council's first publicised prosecution under the scheme. Contact: HMOLicensing@arun.gov.uk / 01903 737755. Property types covered: HMOs occupied by three or four persons from two or more households sharing basic amenities (toilet, washing, or cooking facilities) within the designated wards. Also Section 257 HMOs (converted buildings including common parts) within the same wards. Excludes HMOs already subject to mandatory licensing.. Exemptions or exclusions: HMOs already subject to mandatory licensing (5+ persons) are excluded. Standard statutory exemptions under Schedule 14 of the Housing Act 2004 apply (care homes, student accommodation managed by educational establishments, religious buildings, owner-occupied properties and similar). Designation falls under the Housing Act 2004: Licensing of HMOs and Selective Licensing General Approval 2015 and did not require Secretary of State confirmation..
Our current data shows this scheme based on public information. Always verify the latest fees, dates, and boundary wording on the official council page.
Mandatory licensing applies district-wide to all Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) occupied by five or more persons from two or more households who share a toilet, washing facilities, or cooking facilities. From 1 October 2018, the previous requirement for a property to be three or more storeys was removed, significantly expanding the scope of mandatory licensing to cover all qualifying HMOs regardless of storey count.
Mandatory HMO licensing was introduced nationally under Part 2 of the Housing Act 2004 with effect from April 2006. The storey requirement was removed from 1 October 2018. Arun District Council applications are made through the council's online environmental health portal at eh.arun.gov.uk. All communications with the licensing team must be electronic. Property types covered: Section 254 HMOs with five or more persons forming two or more separate households sharing basic amenities (toilet, washing, or cooking facilities). Applies regardless of number of storeys following October 2018 legislative changes.. Exemptions or exclusions: Standard statutory exemptions under the Housing Act 2004. Section 257 HMOs (converted blocks of flats) are covered under the additional licensing scheme rather than mandatory licensing. Properties in Schedule 14 exempt categories (care homes, student accommodation managed by educational establishments, religious buildings, owner-occupied properties etc.) are excluded..
Our current data shows this scheme based on public information. Always verify the latest fees, dates, and boundary wording on the official council page.
Public consultation conducted in 2023 proposing the introduction of an Additional HMO Licensing Scheme in three wards (Marine, Hotham, and River). The consultation proposed covering HMOs with 3-4 occupants in two or more households, and Section 257 HMOs. The consultation informed the Full Council decision of 10 January 2024 to approve the designation.
The 2023 consultation document (available in PDF, 14MB, and HTML formats) and a 2023 HMO Consultation Results and Feedback Report (4MB PDF) are published at arun.gov.uk/hmo-results. The consultation led directly to the Full Council approval on 10 January 2024 and the subsequent designation made on 1 November 2024. This entry records the closed consultation stage rather than a separate active scheme. Property types covered: Proposed: HMOs with 3-4 persons in two or more households sharing amenities; Section 257 HMOs.
Our current data shows this scheme based on public information. Always verify the latest fees, dates, and boundary wording on the official council page.
These public research signals help show how recently this page was reviewed and what still needs checking before you rely on it.
Last reviewed
27 March 2026
Research confidence
High (88/100)
Sources checked
11
Key facts confirmed across multiple official Arun District Council pages: the Additional HMO Licensing Scheme designation date (1 November 2024), commencement date (1 February 2025), expiry date (31 January 2030), geographic scope (River, Hotham and Marine wards), and the Full Council approval date (10 January 2024) are all consistent across the designation document, the scheme 2025 page, and news releases. Fees for 2025-26 were confirmed from the council's fees and charges page. Mandatory HMO licensing is confirmed as nationally required and active district-wide. No selective licensing scheme was found across multiple search queries and page reviews. The public register URL was confirmed from the licensing landing page. The 2023 consultation outcome is confirmed. One area of minor uncertainty is the exact fee structure for the mandatory licence prior to 2025-26 (the appendix-5 consultation document predates the scheme and shows lower historic/proposed fee levels).
The council maintains a public register of all licensed HMO properties (both mandatory and additional HMO licences) as required under section 232 of the Housing Act 2004. The register is accessible online through the council's environmental health portal at eh.arun.gov.uk. Users can select 'Licence type: HMO' to filter the register. The council committed in the Additional Licensing Designation to maintain a register of houses registered under the Additional Licensing Designation as required under section 232 of the Act. No separate selective licensing register exists as no selective licensing scheme is in operation.
Supporting sources
All councils in England must operate mandatory HMO licensing. This applies to properties with 5 or more occupants forming 2 or more separate households, regardless of location. If your property meets these criteria, you must apply for a mandatory HMO licence from Arun.
Mandatory licensing applies district-wide to all Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) occupied by five or more persons from two or more households who share a toilet, washing facilities, or cooking facilities. From 1 October 2018, the previous requirement for a property to be three or more storeys was removed, significantly expanding the scope of mandatory licensing to cover all qualifying HMOs regardless of storey count.
Mandatory HMO licensing was introduced nationally under Part 2 of the Housing Act 2004 with effect from April 2006. The storey requirement was removed from 1 October 2018. Arun District Council applications are made through the council's online environmental health portal at eh.arun.gov.uk. All communications with the licensing team must be electronic. Property types covered: Section 254 HMOs with five or more persons forming two or more separate households sharing basic amenities (toilet, washing, or cooking facilities). Applies regardless of number of storeys following October 2018 legislative changes.. Exemptions or exclusions: Standard statutory exemptions under the Housing Act 2004. Section 257 HMOs (converted blocks of flats) are covered under the additional licensing scheme rather than mandatory licensing. Properties in Schedule 14 exempt categories (care homes, student accommodation managed by educational establishments, religious buildings, owner-occupied properties etc.) are excluded..
In addition to licensing, all private landlords in England must comply with these requirements:
Use these routes to move from the Arun summary into the most relevant next action for your property, role, or research task.
Landlord with a standard let→
Start with a postcode if you want a property-specific route before relying on the council summary alone.
Shared occupancy or possible HMO→
Use the HMO checker if occupier numbers, households, or room-sharing could change the answer.
Check if a property has an HMO licence→
Use this if you need to check whether a property holds an HMO licence, or find the council's public HMO register.
Investor, buyer, or conveyancer→
Use the due diligence guide if this council page is part of a purchase, refinance, or pre-letting review.
Letting agent or portfolio manager→
Preview the monitoring route if you need ongoing watchlists and recurring scheme-change visibility.
Understand additional licensing rules→
Read the guide if you want the broader background on how additional HMO licensing works alongside this council page.
Need the local HMO route→
Use the additional licensing page if the real question is whether a smaller shared house needs a local licence here.
Tenant checking landlord compliance→
Use the tenant guide if you rent a property and want to check whether your landlord holds the right licence.
Important disclaimer
This tool provides general information about landlord licensing schemes in England. Results are based on publicly available data and may not reflect recent changes. This is not legal advice. Always verify licensing requirements directly with your local council before making decisions.
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