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Council websiteLandlord licensing in Folkestone and Hythe
South East
We currently show scheme records, official links, and supporting research for this council.
Selective Licensing
No active selective scheme shown
Additional Licensing
No active additional scheme shown
Mandatory HMO Licensing
Active mandatory HMO
Current status summary
What we currently show
No active local selective or additional licensing scheme is currently shown in our data. This page combines scheme records, official verification links, and supporting local research. This public page currently has 2 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 Folkestone and Hythe.
Council updates
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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.
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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 (78/100)
Sources checked
2
Research notes
Official Folkestone and Hythe District Council pages confirmed active mandatory HMO licensing with current fees (£1,091 new, £927 renewal, VAT inclusive), no selective licensing, and no additional HMO licensing. The absence of selective and additional licensing is corroborated by the Landlord Law third-party directory (updated October 2024) and by the absence of any relevant pages, committee records, or forward plan entries on the council's official channels. The main uncertainty is the specific financial year the stated fees apply to, as this is not explicitly stated on the council page.
Council contact details
- Phone
- 01303 853660
- Address
- Private Sector Housing, Folkestone and Hythe District Council, Civic Centre, Castle Hill Avenue, Folkestone, Kent CT20 2QY
Register access
Public RegisterBy Request
The mandatory HMO public register is not available to view online. To view the register, members of the public must visit the Civic Centre (Castle Hill Avenue, Folkestone, CT20 2QY) in person between 10am and 3pm Monday to Friday, or request a list by emailing private.sectorhousing@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk. The HMO Licence Register is a statutory requirement under Housing Act 2004 s.232(1). The council's licensing public registers page (folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/homepage/126/licensing-public-registers) only covers Licensing Act 2003 (alcohol/entertainment), animal activities, gambling, general licences, and taxi licensing - not HMO housing licences. A 2018 FOI request (WhatDoTheyKnow) indicates the HMO register has historically been made available on request. No selective or additional licensing registers exist as these schemes are not in operation.
Important to verify
- Specific financial year the current HMO fees apply to (not stated on council page)
- HMO licence duration (up to 5 years is statutory standard but not explicitly stated on council page)
- Whether any accreditation schemes are recognised for fee discounts (none mentioned on council page)
- 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 Folkestone and Hythe council.
Council-specific HMO detail we currently show
Mandatory licensing for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) across the entire Folkestone and Hythe district. Applies to properties occupied by five or more people making up two or more families (households), regardless of the number of storeys, in accordance with the Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (Prescribed Description) (England) Order 2018. The 3-storey requirement was removed nationally from 1 October 2018.
- HMO fee guide
- £1,091
- Fee notes
- £1091
- Typical licence term
- Up to 5 years
- Start date shown
- 1 April 2006
Mandatory HMO licensing commenced nationally on 6 April 2006 under Part 2 of the Housing Act 2004. The 3-storey height requirement was removed from 1 October 2018 under the Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (Prescribed Description) (England) Order 2018, bringing single and two-storey qualifying HMOs into mandatory licensing. Applications are submitted via the council's MyAccount portal (not the national gov.uk portal, unlike some other councils). New application form: fhdcformassembly.tfaforms.net/f/hmo-application. Renewal form: fhdcformassembly.tfaforms.net/f/hmo-renewal. General enquiry form: fhdcformassembly.tfaforms.net/f/enquiry-private-sector-housing.
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 Folkestone and Hythe
- Do I need a landlord licence in Folkestone and Hythe?
- Our current data does not show active selective or additional licensing schemes in Folkestone and Hythe. 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.
- How much does a property licence cost in Folkestone and Hythe?
- Based on our current data, licence fees in Folkestone and Hythe are approximately: Mandatory HMO Licensing: £1,091. 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 Folkestone and Hythe?
- Yes. Mandatory HMO licensing applies across all of England, including Folkestone and Hythe. It covers properties with 5 or more occupiers forming 2 or more separate households. You must apply to Folkestone and Hythe council for a mandatory HMO licence if your property meets these criteria.
- What happens if I rent without a licence in Folkestone and Hythe?
- 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 Folkestone and Hythe 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.