Which councils in South West have selective licensing?

Our current data shows 2 of the 27 councils in South West operating an active selective licensing scheme, and 3 operating additional HMO licensing. Schemes can be borough or district-wide or limited to certain wards, so always confirm with the council.

Does mandatory HMO licensing apply in South West?

Yes. Mandatory HMO licensing applies across all of England, including this region, to properties with five or more occupiers forming two or more households. Many councils also run additional licensing covering smaller shared houses.

How do I check licensing for a property in South West?

Use the postcode checker to match the address to its council and see whether our current data shows selective or additional licensing for that area, then verify with the council. Because some schemes only cover certain wards, postcode-level checking matters.

Is this comparison official?

No. It is a research summary based on our current data, not an official record. Councils can introduce, renew, or end schemes at any time, so treat it as a starting point and verify the latest position with the council.

Region hub

South West property licensing

This hub compares selective and additional HMO licensing across the 27 councils in South West, alongside how usable each council's public register is. Use it as a starting point, then check a specific address and verify with the council.

Councils: 27
Active selective: 2
Active additional: 3
Searchable registers: 3

Licensing by council in South West

Register usability is scored 1 (clear searchable register) to 5 (no clear public route). All statuses reflect our current data and should be verified with the council.

Council	Selective	Additional HMO	Register
Bath and North East Somerset Council	None shown	Former	1/5
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council	Active	Active	3/5
Bristol City Council	Active	Active	2/5
Cheltenham	None shown	Active	Not confirmed
Cornwall Council	None shown	None shown	3/5
Cotswold	None shown	None shown	Not confirmed
Dorset	None shown	None shown	Not confirmed
East Devon	None shown	None shown	Not confirmed
Exeter City Council	None shown	Former	1/5
Forest of Dean	None shown	None shown	Not confirmed
Gloucester	None shown	None shown	2/5
Isles of Scilly	None shown	None shown	Not confirmed
Mid Devon	None shown	None shown	Not confirmed
North Devon	None shown	None shown	Not confirmed
North Somerset	None shown	None shown	Not confirmed
Plymouth City Council	None shown	None shown	2/5
Somerset	None shown	None shown	Not confirmed
South Gloucestershire	None shown	None shown	Not confirmed
South Hams	None shown	None shown	Not confirmed
Stroud	None shown	None shown	Not confirmed
Swindon	None shown	None shown	Not confirmed
Teignbridge	None shown	None shown	Not confirmed
Tewkesbury	None shown	None shown	Not confirmed
Torbay Council	None shown	None shown	1/5
Torridge	None shown	None shown	Not confirmed
West Devon	None shown	None shown	Not confirmed
Wiltshire Council	None shown	None shown	Not confirmed

Our current data is a research summary, not a legal record. Schemes, boundaries, fees, and registers should always be verified with the council before letting, purchasing, refinancing, or taking legal action. Mandatory HMO licensing applies across the region regardless of any local scheme.

Stay informed

Get notified when licensing schemes change

Useful if you are tracking an area before buying, letting, or reviewing compliance. We send occasional update emails only, and you should still verify final requirements with the council.

No spam. No generic marketing blasts. Just occasional licensing updates.

Browse other regions

East Midlands East of England London North East North West South East West Midlands Yorkshire and the Humber

Selective licensing areas

All councils operating selective licensing, by region.

Additional HMO areas

Councils running additional HMO licensing, by region.

How usable each council's public register is.

Checking a property in South West?

Use the free checker first. A written review can document the council licensing position and official sources if a decision needs it.

Free checker

Free · Live now

Check a postcode, open the council page, and use the guides before paying for anything.

Open the free checker

Property Licensing Check

£29 · Live now

A concise written review for one property, postcode, or council situation based on current public council-source information.

Request the review

Alerts 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 monitoring

These are information services, not legal advice. Final reliance should still be checked against council sources.

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.