East of England · Council licensing
Landlord licensing in Braintree
✓ Hand-verified 19 Aug 2026Beyond mandatory HMO licensing, Braintree does not currently operate a selective or additional licensing scheme. Here's the current position.
Required for any HMO let to 5 or more people forming 2+ households who share facilities.
Paid in two parts — one on application, the balance before the licence is issued.
- Renewal £550
Braintree — braintree.gov.uk, read 19 Aug 2026
Evidenced negative by enumeration (first-party research 18 Aug 2026): the council HMO licence page presents only mandatory licensing - "We issue a HMO licence for up to five years. If you have more than one HMO you need a separate licence for each property. It is a criminal offence to operate an HMO without a licence." It lists the standard mandatory thresholds and exemptions with no selective scheme described. No consultation or designation found on the council domain 2020-2026.
Evidenced negative by enumeration (first-party research 18 Aug 2026): the council HMO licence page, whose purpose is to tell landlords which licence they need, describes the mandatory regime and its exemptions only. No s.56 additional designation appears anywhere on the council domain, and no consultation or committee decision on discretionary licensing was found for 2020-2026.
Common questions
Does Braintree have a selective licensing scheme?
No. Braintree does not currently operate a selective licensing scheme. Mandatory HMO licensing still applies wherever a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households.
Does Braintree have an additional HMO licensing scheme?
No. Braintree does not currently operate an additional HMO licensing scheme. Mandatory HMO licensing still applies wherever a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households.
Do I need an HMO licence in Braintree?
A mandatory HMO licence is required anywhere in England and Wales, including Braintree, where a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households who share basic amenities. Smaller shared houses may also need a licence where an additional licensing scheme applies.
- Free landlord compliance check — five questions, no account
- Tenancy agreement checker — findings cited to the Act and section
All property licensing in East of England →
Source: Braintree licensing page →
Every landlord in Braintree also needs
A valid Gas Safety certificate (annual), an EICR (every 5 years), a valid EPC, a protected deposit, smoke & CO alarms, the Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet, and a current How to Rent guide — plus the new Section 8 possession rules since Section 21 was abolished on 1 May 2026.
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