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.
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Council websiteLandlord licensing in Dartford
South East
We currently show scheme records, official links, and supporting research for this council.
Selective Licensing
Active selective
Additional Licensing
No active additional scheme shown
Mandatory HMO Licensing
Active mandatory HMO
Current status summary
What we currently show
Our current data shows active local licensing signals. Verify the latest boundaries, dates, fees, and exemptions with the council. This page combines scheme records, official verification links, and supporting local research. This public page currently has 3 sources linked or recorded.
What you still need to verify
Check live council wording for scheme boundaries, fees, dates, exemptions, application steps and whether the property setup changes the answer.
Official sources
A licensing page is available and should be treated as the main verification route.
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 Dartford.
Council updates
Get updates for Dartford
We will email you if Dartford introduces, renews, or changes a licensing scheme. Free, occasional updates only. Always verify final requirements on the council website.
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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.
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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 Dartford
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
Selective LicensingActive
Selective Licensing
Dartford Borough Council has not created any selective licensing areas. Selective licensing would apply to all privately rented residential properties (not exclusively HMOs) within a designated area experiencing problems such as low housing demand, anti-social behaviour, or socio-economic deprivation.
- Coverage
- Borough-wide
Research notes
Confirmed by landlordlaw.co.uk (October 2024) and legislate.tech that no selective licensing areas have been created in Dartford Borough. The council's current policy will be reviewed once the Renters' Rights Bill becomes an Act and the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023 is implemented. No proposed selective licensing scheme was identified as of extraction date.
Our current data shows this scheme based on public information. Always verify the latest fees, dates, and boundary wording on the official council page.
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 (77/100)
Sources checked
3
Research notes
Key data points (fees, contact details, application portal URLs, licensing criteria, public register URL, absence of selective and additional licensing) were confirmed directly from official Dartford Borough Council web pages. The absence of selective and additional licensing was corroborated by multiple independent third-party sources. Fee amounts of £905 (new) and £695 (renewal) were extracted directly from the official HMO licensing page. The 75 licensed HMOs figure and 29% growth statistic are from a July 2025 Overview and Scrutiny Committee report. Main uncertainty is around specific exemption categories and whether any formal accreditation discount scheme exists.
Council contact details
- hmo@dartford.gov.uk
- Phone
- 01322 343152
- Address
- Private Sector Housing Team, Dartford Borough Council, Civic Centre, Home Gardens, Dartford, Kent, DA1 1DR
Register access
Public RegisterBy Request
The council maintains a legally required public register of all licensed HMOs. The register is published as a static HTML table on the council website under 'Licensed Houses in Multiple Occupation'. The version available at extraction was described as the 'May 2025 edited version'. The register contains: licence reference numbers, names of licence holders, property addresses (across Dartford, Bexley, Swanscombe, Greenhithe, Bean, Wilmington, and Sutton-at-Hone areas), licence start dates, and licence expiry dates. Approximately 70-75 licensed HMOs are listed. The register is not an interactive searchable database. No selective licensing public register exists as no scheme is in operation.
Important to verify
- Confirmation of any accreditation discount scheme for HMO licensing fees
- Exact exemption categories beyond the purpose-built flats and live-in landlord exceptions
- Fee structure for HMOs with unusually large numbers of occupants (whether additional per-room charges apply)
- Any recent council change that could affect the current public summary.
Supporting sources
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 Dartford council.
Council-specific HMO detail we currently show
Mandatory licensing for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) across the entire Dartford borough. Applies to properties occupied by 5 or more persons forming 2 or more separate households who share basic amenities. The 3-storey height requirement was removed from 1 October 2018, bringing single and two-storey qualifying HMOs into scope. Approximately 75 licensed HMOs were active in the borough as of mid-2025.
- HMO fee guide
- £905
- Fee notes
- £905
- Typical licence term
- 5 years
- Start date shown
- 1 April 2006
Mandatory licensing commenced April 2006 under Part 2 of the Housing Act 2004. The 3-storey height requirement was removed from 1 October 2018 by the Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (Mandatory Conditions of Licences) (England) Regulations 2018. Minimum bedroom sizes apply: single person aged 10+ must be at least 6.51 sqm; two persons aged 10+ at least 10.22 sqm; child under 10 at least 4.64 sqm. All HMOs (whether licensable or not) must meet amenity standards, have fire detection/prevention measures, and be free from Category One hazards. Applications processed within 12 weeks of valid documentation receipt; tacit authorisation applies if no council contact within agreed timeframe. New planning permission requirements: from 9 December 2025 all new HMOs north of the A2 require planning permission; from 10 December 2026 all new HMOs south of the A2 require planning permission (exceptions apply for C3-use properties with 6 or fewer occupants south of the A2 prior to December 2026).
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 Dartford
- Do I need a landlord licence in Dartford?
- Dartford currently operates selective 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 Dartford?
- Based on our current data, licence fees in Dartford are approximately: Mandatory HMO Licensing: £905. 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 Dartford?
- Yes. Mandatory HMO licensing applies across all of England, including Dartford. It covers properties with 5 or more occupiers forming 2 or more separate households. You must apply to Dartford council for a mandatory HMO licence if your property meets these criteria.
- What happens if I rent without a licence in Dartford?
- 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 Dartford 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.
Need the area-based route→
Use the selective licensing page if the real question is whether a standard rented home sits inside a designated area.
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.