Landlord licensing in Spelthorne

Council-specific HMO detail we currently show

Borough-wide mandatory HMO licensing as required by national legislation (Housing Act 2004, as amended October 2018). Applies to all HMOs in Spelthorne occupied by 5 or more people forming 2 or more households who share facilities. The 3-storey minimum requirement was removed in October 2018, so all qualifying HMOs regardless of number of storeys now require a licence.

Fee notes

£1,368.00 per licence (total) Total fee of £1,368.00 is split into: processing fee of £567 (payable at application) and maintenance fee of £801 (payable on licence approval). The processing fee is non-refundable; the maintenance fee is refundable if the licence is not granted. Discounts available: 5% for professional landlord association membership; 10% for recognised accreditation scheme membership. Penalty of £175 for late, incomplete, or cancelled applications. 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. Prosecution with unlimited fines is also possible. 5% discount for professional landlord association membership; 10% discount for recognised landlord accreditation scheme membership.

Typical licence term

Risk-based: 5 years (low risk), 3 years (medium risk), or 1 year (high risk). Risk-based system introduced April 2024.

Start date shown

1 October 2018

Online application available via the council's AchieveService portal. Applications can also be submitted by emailing a completed form to eh.residential@spelthorne.gov.uk. Required documents include: current gas safety certificate (if applicable), electrical installation condition report, fire detection and emergency lighting test certificates, Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), written fire risk assessment (may be submitted within 6 months of application), floor plan with room sizes and facilities marked, and a sample tenancy agreement. The council consults with the fire brigade and mortgage/finance company as part of the application process. Active enforcement programme underway: council is pursuing civil penalty action against multiple landlords for failing to licence, breaching housing standards, and inadequate property management. Council Leader Cllr Joanne Sexton wrote to licensed landlords in January 2026 highlighting legal and moral duties. Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook MP formally responded acknowledging the importance of improving PRS standards. Approximately 141 licensed HMOs across 13 wards as of late 2024. Property types covered: Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) with 5 or more people forming 2 or more households who share facilities such as kitchens or bathrooms, including houses, bungalows, maisonettes and flats. No minimum storey requirement (removed October 2018). Exemptions or exclusions: HMOs with 3 or 4 occupants are not subject to mandatory licensing and do not require a licence (no additional licensing scheme exists). Properties already subject to an appropriate management scheme may qualify for exemptions under the Housing Act 2004.