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Council websiteLandlord licensing in Exeter City Council
South West
We currently show scheme records, official links, and supporting research for this council.
Licensing scorecard
Enhanced coverageNo active local scheme currently shown in our data, but former scheme records are noted for context.
Selective licensing
No active selective scheme shownAdditional HMO licensing
Former scheme notedMandatory HMO licensing
Applies across England- Source confidence
- High
- Boundary confidence
- No active local scheme boundary to assess
- Public register
- Not yet confirmed
- Last reviewed
- 28 March 2026
- Next review due
- Not scheduled
- Sources recorded
- 3
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
Confirm the detail before you rely on it
Our current data gives a useful starting point, but the area match or scheme detail may need confirming. Verify on the official council source, or get a written check if you want a documented answer.
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 Exeter City Council.
Council updates
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We will email you if Exeter City Council 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 are still unsure
Keep the informational journey first. Use the free checker, the £29 review, or alerts only if you want help resolving uncertainty or tracking future change.
Property Licensing Check
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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 Exeter City Council
Enter a postcode to see whether it appears to fall within a licensing scheme area, then verify the result with the council.
Proposed, consultation or former scheme records
No active local scheme is currently shown in our data, but these records are useful prompts to check the latest council position.
Additional LicensingExpired
Additional HMO Licensing Scheme
The additional HMO licensing scheme was previously in operation but expired in or around February 2020. It covered HMOs not meeting the mandatory licensing threshold (i.e. smaller HMOs with fewer than 5 occupiers or from a single household). The scheme has not been renewed and is no longer in force.
- Scheme period
- Start date not shown - 1 February 2020
- Typical licence term
- 5 years (when active)
- Coverage
- Borough-wide
Research notes
The additional licensing scheme expired in approximately February 2020. Exeter City Council has not renewed or replaced this scheme. Landlords who held licences under this scheme are not required to apply for renewal. As of March 2026, no new additional licensing scheme is in place in Exeter. There were reports in 2014/2015 of the council considering expanding additional licensing to more areas, but this did not lead to a new scheme post-expiry.
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
- Search by postcode
- Register usability
- Clear searchable register (1/5)
Register appears to cover
HMO
Appears to cover HMO licences - always confirm scope on the register itself.
Register notes
The HMO Licence Register is maintained under Section 232 of the Housing Act 2004. It is searchable online via Exeter City Council's PublicAccess portal. Users can search by postcode or part of an address. Results are limited to a maximum of 50 addresses per search. The register includes property address, licence holder details, maximum permitted occupancy, and issue date. Licence conditions require property owners to display a copy of the licence in a prominent position within the property. For queries about licensed or unlicensed properties, contact the Private Sector Housing Team at 01392 277888.
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
3
Research notes
Key data points confirmed from multiple official Exeter City Council web pages and corroborated by third-party landlord information sources. The 2025/2026 fee structure (Part A £298.70, Part B £772.50) was confirmed directly from the council's application page. The expiry of the additional licensing scheme in February 2020 and the absence of selective licensing were confirmed by both council sources and third-party landlord information portals. The public register URL and its functionality were confirmed from the council's HMO Licence Register page. Contact email sourced from a third-party directory (landlordlaw.co.uk, updated October 2024) and requires verification.
Council contact details
- Phone
- 01392 277888
- Address
- Private Sector Housing, Exeter City Council, Civic Centre, Paris Street, Exeter, EX1 1RQ
Important to verify
- Contact email address not confirmed directly from the council's own website - sourced from a third-party directory
- Exact start date of the additional HMO licensing scheme not identified
- Exact wards or areas covered by the former additional licensing scheme not confirmed
- Any recent council change that could affect the current public summary.
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 Exeter City 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 Exeter City Council.
Council-specific HMO detail we currently show
Mandatory HMO licensing applies across the entire Exeter City Council area as required by national legislation under the Housing Act 2004. Applies to all HMOs with 5 or more occupiers from 2 or more households sharing an amenity (kitchen, bathroom, toilet). The storey requirement was removed from the definition on 1 October 2018, extending coverage to include flats over shops and other non-traditional HMO property types meeting the threshold.
- Typical licence term
- 5 years
Exeter City Council introduced an Article 4 Direction in 2011 requiring planning permission for conversion of family homes (C3 use class) to HMOs (C4 use class), particularly in designated areas including St James, Mount Pleasant, and Pennsylvania. Planning permission is separate from and does not guarantee an HMO licence, and vice versa. HMO licences are not transferable; sale of a licensed HMO requires a new licence application from the new owner.
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 Exeter City Council
- Do I need a landlord licence in Exeter City Council?
- Our current data does not show active selective or additional licensing schemes in Exeter City Council. However, mandatory HMO licensing still applies across England to properties with 5 or more occupiers forming 2 or more households. Always verify with the council as schemes can change.
- Does mandatory HMO licensing apply in Exeter City Council?
- Yes. Mandatory HMO licensing applies across all of England, including Exeter City Council. It covers properties with 5 or more occupiers forming 2 or more separate households. You must apply to Exeter City Council for a mandatory HMO licence if your property meets these criteria.
- What happens if I rent without a licence in Exeter City Council?
- 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 Exeter City Council 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.
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.