Additional HMO licensing in Arun
Yes. Arun operates an additional HMO licensing scheme. Letting a covered property without a licence risks a civil penalty of up to £40,000 and a rent repayment order of up to two years' rent.
Common questions
Do I need an additional HMO licence in Arun?
Yes. Arun operates an additional HMO licensing scheme. Letting a covered property without a licence risks a civil penalty of up to £40,000 and a rent repayment order of up to two years' rent.
Which areas of Arun does the scheme cover?
River, Marine and Hotham wards. Confirm a specific address against the council's own designation map before applying.
When does Arun's scheme end?
The designation runs until 31 January 2030, unless the council revokes it earlier under section 84 of the Housing Act 2004.
What does the licence cost?
£2,347. Councils commonly discount for accredited landlords and early applications; confirm the current figure with Arun before budgeting.
Paid in two parts — one on application, the balance before the licence is issued.
Arun, read 20 August 2026
What the designation says
Arun operates an additional HMO licensing scheme covering the River, Marine and Hotham wards. The designation was made on 1 November 2024 and came into force on 1 February 2025. It catches smaller houses in multiple occupation, meaning those occupied by three or four people, and section 257 HMOs, which are buildings converted into flats that do not meet the 1991 Building Regulations standard. The council introduced it to raise standards in smaller shared homes that fall outside mandatory licensing. Because the scheme covers three wards rather than the whole district, an address should be checked against the designation rather than assumed from its postcode. Mandatory HMO licensing continues to apply separately wherever a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households.
What this means for a landlord
A licence must be in place before the property is let, not applied for afterwards. Operating unlicensed in a designated area is a criminal offence: a civil penalty of up to £40,000 per offence and a rent repayment order of up to two years' rent. Both maxima apply to conduct on or after 1 May 2026; before that date they were £30,000 and twelve months. Section 21 was abolished on 1 May 2026 and possession now runs through the amended section 8 grounds. Mandatory HMO licensing applies separately and everywhere, wherever a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households.
Information tool, not legal advice. Confirm the position with Arun before letting.