Does your rental home in England need a licence?
For private rented homes in England. Many rental properties need a council licence — house shares (HMOs), and many homes in “selective licensing” areas. If a required licence is missing and no valid application, exemption or defence applies, there may be an offence. A qualifying Rent Repayment Order can recover up to two years of rent — 12 months if the offence was before 1 May 2026.
How do I check if my landlord has a licence?
Search your council’s public licensing register for your address. Every council in England must keep a public register of the property licences it grants (Housing Act 2004, s.232). Enter your postcode above and we will point you to the right council.
Does my landlord need an HMO licence?
Yes, if the home is let to 5 or more people from 2 or more households who share facilities such as a kitchen or bathroom — that is a house in multiple occupation (HMO) needing a mandatory licence. Councils can also require licences for smaller HMOs (additional licensing) or for most private rented homes in chosen areas (selective licensing).
Does my landlord need a selective licence?
Only if your council has a selective licensing scheme covering your street or ward, and the scheme was in force for the dates you rented. Schemes run for a fixed term, so check the council’s selective licensing page for the area covered and the start and end dates.
What happens if my landlord is not licensed?
Letting a property that needs a licence without one can be a criminal offence, subject to valid applications, exemptions and defences. You may be able to apply to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) for a Rent Repayment Order to recover rent. Confirm the licensing position with the council first.
Does your rental home in England need a licence?
Enter your postcode and we’ll point you at your council’s licensing register. A register is a starting point: ask the council to confirm the property needed a licence, any application or exemption, and the relevant dates.
That doesn’t look like a UK postcode — try again.
Your local authority
official council finder
’s website, then look for its HMO, additional and selective licensing registers. Enter your postcode again if asked. The former London-wide checker link is unavailable.
We don’t have a direct deep-link to this council’s licensing register yet — coverage is being added as users surface gaps. We’ve pre-filled a search for “
private rented housing licensing register” — choose the council’s official website from the results.
’s public licensing register, search for your address, and check whether the landlord is listed. A missing result alone does not prove an offence: ask the council whether the property required a licence and whether a valid application or exemption covered the relevant dates.
What to look for on the register
- Search by your address — most registers let you search by street or postcode. If your property comes up, the licence holder may be the landlord, a manager or another authorised person. A different name alone does not show an offence.
- Check the licence dates — note the start and expiry. Ask the council about renewals, valid pending applications and temporary exemptions before treating a gap as an offence.
- Save the page — print to PDF or screenshot. Keep the register result and the council’s confirmation. An absent entry or name mismatch alone does not establish a claim.
- Check selective licensing — even non-HMO properties need a licence in designated streets / wards. Search your council’s “selective licensing” page to see if your area is covered.
If your landlord is unlicensed
Operating a property that requires a licence without the required licence can be a criminal offence (Housing Act 2004 s.72/s.95), subject to valid applications, exemptions and defences. Not every HMO requires a licence. Confirm the position with the council before pursuing a Rent Repayment Order. You can claim back up to 24 months of rent via the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) for an offence on or after 1 May 2026 (12 months for an earlier offence) — the cap was doubled by the Renters’ Rights Act 2025.
More on how licensing works: landlord licensing explained, what selective licensing means, and how the Property Chamber tribunal works.
Council coverage is being expanded weekly — if your area shows the gov.uk fallback, send us the link to your council’s register at hello@startmyclaim.ai and we’ll add it. Not legal advice. For complex situations, get a second opinion from a qualified housing solicitor.