Property Licensing Check
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Council websiteLandlord licensing in Brighton and Hove
South East
We currently show scheme records, official links, and supporting research for this council.
Licensing scorecard
Enhanced coverageOur current data shows active local licensing signals. Verify the latest boundaries, dates, fees, and exemptions with the council.
Selective licensing
Active selectiveAdditional HMO licensing
Active additionalMandatory HMO licensing
Applies across England- Source confidence
- High
- Boundary confidence
- Medium
- Public register
- Not yet confirmed
- Last reviewed
- 28 March 2026
- Next review due
- Not scheduled
- Sources recorded
- 6
Our current data is a research summary, not a legal record. This should be verified with the council before letting, purchasing, refinancing, or taking legal action. Mandatory HMO licensing may still apply even where no local additional or selective scheme is recorded.
Recommended next step
Verify the position with the official council source
Our current data shows an active local scheme and a clear area match. The fastest reliable next step is to confirm the current fees, dates, boundaries, and exemptions on the official council source before letting, purchasing, refinancing, or taking legal action.
What still adds uncertainty
- Mandatory HMO licensing can apply based on occupancy and households, which cannot be confirmed from a postcode alone.
Buying, refinancing, or completing conveyancing? A due diligence report pulls the licensing position together with the official routes so the risk is documented before you commit. This is an information service and is not legal advice.
Verify with the council
Our current data is based on publicly available information. Always verify the latest licensing position, scheme boundaries, fees, and exemptions with Brighton and Hove.
Council updates
Get updates for Brighton and Hove
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.
If you need more than the council page
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.
Licensing Due Diligence Report
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A more tailored, more decision-oriented, and more risk-focused review for higher-stakes property decisions.
Request the reportAlerts and monitoring
£12.99/month · Coming soon
A lighter monitoring tier for selected councils or areas, aimed at landlords and smaller investors who want ongoing updates.
See alerts and monitoringThese are information services, not legal advice. Final reliance should still be checked against council sources.
Check a postcode in Brighton and Hove
Enter a postcode to see whether it appears to fall within a licensing scheme area, then verify the result with the council.
Local licensing scheme records
Additional LicensingActive
Brighton & Hove City Council Designation for an Area for Additional Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) 2024
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.
- HMO licence fee
- £849
- Fee guide
- £849
- Discount available
- £75 discount per qualifying criterion (max £150 / two discounts): (1) Propertymark accreditation or accreditation through iHowz, NRLA or SafeAgent; (2) EPC rating C or above; (3) Registered charity status. Discounts cannot be applied if a late fee applies.
- Scheme period
- 1 July 2024 - 30 June 2029
- Typical licence term
- 5 years (or until scheme end date)
- Coverage
- Selected wards: Citywide - all 23 wards of Brighton & Hove
Research notes
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 LicensingActive
Brighton & Hove City Council Designation for an Area for Selective Licensing 2024
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).
- Licence fee
- £711
- Fee guide
- £711
- Discount available
- £75 discount per qualifying criterion (max £150 / two discounts): (1) Propertymark accreditation or accreditation through iHowz, NRLA or SafeAgent; (2) EPC rating C or above; (3) Registered charity status with Charity Commission. Multi-dwelling blocks: additional £50 discount per flat from the second unit onwards (this discount can be combined with one £75 discount). Discounts cannot be applied if a late fee is charged.
- Scheme period
- 2 September 2024 - 1 September 2029
- Typical licence term
- Up to 5 years (licence runs from application date until scheme end date of 1 September 2029)
- Coverage
- Selected wards: Kemp Town, Moulsecoomb and Bevendean, Queens Park, Whitehawk and Marina
Research notes
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.
Selective LicensingProposed
Brighton & Hove Selective Licensing Phase 2 - 13 Wards (Proposed)
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).
- Coverage
- Selected wards: Brunswick and Adelaide, Central Hove, Goldsmid, Hanover and Elm Grove, Hollingdean and Fiveways, Preston Park, Regency, Rottingdean and West Saltdean, Round Hill, South Portslade, West Hill and North Laine, Westbourne and Poets Corner, Wish
Research notes
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.
Public licensing register
Councils must keep a public register of licensed properties. How easy it is to use varies a lot between councils.
- Public register found
- Not confirmed
- Search method
- Download a file (PDF or spreadsheet)
- Register usability
- Download only (PDF or file) (3/5)
Register appears to cover
HMOAdditional (unconfirmed)Selective (unconfirmed)
Appears to cover HMO licences - always confirm scope on the register itself.
Register notes
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.
We do not yet show a direct public register link for this council.
The council register and official source pages should be treated as the source of truth. Our summary is a guide to help you find and use them, not a substitute for the live register. How public registers work.
Research summary
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
Research notes
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.
Council contact details
- Phone
- 01273 293156
- Address
- Private Sector Housing, Brighton & Hove City Council, G14, Hove Town Hall, Norton Road, Hove, BN3 3BQ
Important to verify
- Selective licensing fee Part A vs Part B split amounts not stated on official pages
- Additional HMO licensing Part A vs Part B split not stated
- Mandatory HMO Part A vs Part B split not stated
- Any recent council change that could affect the current public summary.
Supporting sources
- https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/housing/private-housing/houses-multiple-occupation
- https://brighton-hove.gov.uk/housing/private-housing/notice-designation-area-additional-licensing
- https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/housing/private-housing/notice-designation-areas-selective-licensing
- https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/housing/private-housing/proposals-introduce-new-property-licensing-schemes
Mandatory HMO licensing
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 council.
Not sure whether the rules apply? Use the HMO licence checker to check whether a property may need an HMO licence, then verify the current position with Brighton and Hove council.
Council-specific HMO detail we currently show
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.
- HMO fee guide
- £871
- Fee notes
- £871
- Typical licence term
- 5 years
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.
Other compliance requirements
In addition to licensing, all private landlords in England must comply with these requirements:
- Gas Safety Certificate (CP12) - renewed annually
- EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) - every 5 years
- EPC rating of E or above - required before letting
- Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms - checked at start of tenancy
- Deposit protection - within 30 days of receiving deposit
- Right to Rent checks - before tenancy starts
Common questions about licensing in Brighton and Hove
- Do I need a landlord licence in Brighton and Hove?
- Brighton and Hove currently operates selective licensing and additional HMO licensing. Whether you need a licence depends on the property location, type, and occupancy. Use the postcode checker on this page or contact the council directly to confirm.
- How much does a property licence cost in Brighton and Hove?
- Based on our current data, licence fees in Brighton and Hove are approximately: Mandatory HMO Licensing: £871; Brighton & Hove City Council Designation for an Area for Additional Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) 2024: £849; Brighton & Hove City Council Designation for an Area for Selective Licensing 2024: £711. Fees can vary and may include discounts for early applications. Always check the latest fees on the council website before applying.
- Does mandatory HMO licensing apply in Brighton and Hove?
- Yes. Mandatory HMO licensing applies across all of England, including Brighton and Hove. It covers properties with 5 or more occupiers forming 2 or more separate households. You must apply to Brighton and Hove council for a mandatory HMO licence if your property meets these criteria.
- What happens if I rent without a licence in Brighton and Hove?
- Operating a licensable property without the correct licence can lead to enforcement action. For offences committed on or after 1 May 2026, GOV.UK guidance refers to civil penalties of up to £40,000 for relevant offences, with different treatment for breaches and for offences committed before that date. Earlier cases may still be assessed under previous rules. Tenants or local authorities may be able to apply for a rent repayment order. GOV.UK guidance now refers to up to two years' rent for relevant offences, but eligibility, timing and the final amount depend on the facts and tribunal decision. From 1 May 2026, Section 21 notices can no longer be used for existing or new private tenancies in England. Transitional rules may still matter for notices served before that date.
Still unsure? Choose the next step that fits you
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.