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 Brighton and Hove, 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 Brighton and Hove.
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.
Council updates
We will email you if Brighton and Hove introduces, renews, or changes a licensing scheme. Free, occasional updates only. Always verify final requirements on the council website.
Free, occasional licensing updates only. You can unsubscribe at any time.
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
Live now
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
Coming soon
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
Coming soon
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.
Applies citywide to all Houses in Multiple Occupation with 5 or more unrelated occupiers sharing kitchen, bathroom, or toilet facilities. This is a mandatory national scheme under the Housing Act 2004.
Mandatory under Housing Act 2004 Part 2. Applies permanently across all local authorities in England. Previous Brighton & Hove additional HMO scheme (2018-2023) covered ~1,900 HMOs and has now been replaced by the 2024-2029 scheme.
Our current data shows this scheme based on public information. Always verify the latest fees, dates, and boundary wording on the official council page.
Citywide additional HMO licensing covering all 23 wards of Brighton & Hove. Applies to smaller HMOs of 2 or more storeys with 3 or 4 unrelated occupiers that do not fall under mandatory HMO licensing. Estimated to cover approximately 2,200 properties.
Agreed at Housing & New Homes Committee on 13 March 2024. Designation came into force 1 July 2024 under Section 58 of the Housing Act 2004 (General Approval). This is the second citywide additional HMO scheme; the previous scheme ended in 2023 and covered approximately 1,900 HMOs benefitting around 5,500 tenants. Individual licences run from the application date until the scheme end date of 30 June 2029. Application form available at hmoapplication.brighton-hove.gov.uk.
Our current data shows this scheme based on public information. Always verify the latest fees, dates, and boundary wording on the official council page.
Selective licensing scheme covering all privately rented properties in four wards: Kemp Town, Moulsecoomb & Bevendean, Queens Park, and Whitehawk & Marina. Covers approximately 2,100 properties. Designated under Section 80(1) of the Housing Act 2004, falling within the General Approval dated 26 March 2015 (does not exceed 20% threshold requiring Secretary of State confirmation).
Agreed at Housing & New Homes Committee on 13 March 2024 under Section 80(1) and Section 82 of the Housing Act 2004. Scheme falls within the General Approval dated 26 March 2015 so did not require separate Secretary of State confirmation. Phase 1 of an intended two-phase approach. Designated on grounds of poor property conditions and deprivation in the four wards. Properties that are single-storey (flats/bungalows) with 3-4 unrelated occupiers who do not qualify as HMOs also fall within this scheme.
Our current data shows this scheme based on public information. Always verify the latest fees, dates, and boundary wording on the official council page.
Proposed second phase of selective licensing covering 13 wards: Brunswick & Adelaide, Central Hove, Goldsmid, Hanover & Elm Grove, Hollingdean & Fiveways, Preston Park, Regency, Rottingdean & West Saltdean, Round Hill, South Portslade, West Hill & North Laine, Westbourne & Poets Corner, and Wish. Estimated to cover approximately 9,500 properties (some sources cite 19,000).
Proposed on grounds of poor property conditions only. Requires Secretary of State confirmation because the expanded scheme would exceed 20% of Brighton & Hove's total geographical area and/or private rented sector. The application to the Secretary of State was planned for January 2025, approximately 6 months after the Phase 1 launch in September 2024. If approved, earliest expected launch was Summer 2025. As of extraction date (March 2026), no confirmed Secretary of State approval decision has been found. Brighton & Hove had a previous citywide selective licensing scheme withdrawn by the Secretary of State in 2018 following challenges from iHowz, creating historical precedent for caution. Status remains uncertain - check the council website for latest updates.
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
28 March 2026
Research confidence
High (70/100)
Sources checked
6
Scheme start/end dates, covered wards, approval dates and legal basis confirmed from official council Notice of Designation pages and news articles. Fee data confirmed from the official HMO and selective licensing fees pages. However, there is a discrepancy in the selective licensing standard fee: the official fees page shows £711, whereas older council materials cited £670 and at least one third-party source (Kamma, dated July 2025) cited £2,010 - this suggests the fee may have been revised since the scheme launched. The £711 figure from the official council fees page is used as the most authoritative current source. Phase 2 selective licensing status remains uncertain with no confirmed Secretary of State decision found as of extraction date. Contact phone number confirmed via the Houses in Multiple Occupation page.
The register is available as downloadable Excel spreadsheet files from the council website. Only properties where the full licence has been issued appear on the public register - properties with expired licences or pending applications are excluded. The council cannot give out personal details but can confirm if a licence has expired or if an application has been received. Contact psh@brighton-hove.gov.uk with queries. Accessibility note: documents may not suit assistive technology users; alternative formats available on request.
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 Brighton and Hove.
Applies citywide to all Houses in Multiple Occupation with 5 or more unrelated occupiers sharing kitchen, bathroom, or toilet facilities. This is a mandatory national scheme under the Housing Act 2004.
Mandatory under Housing Act 2004 Part 2. Applies permanently across all local authorities in England. Previous Brighton & Hove additional HMO scheme (2018-2023) covered ~1,900 HMOs and has now been replaced by the 2024-2029 scheme.
In addition to licensing, all private landlords in England must comply with these requirements:
Use these routes to move from the Brighton and Hove 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 selective licensing rules→
Read the guide if you want the broader legal background on how selective licensing works alongside this council page.
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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