East of England · Council licensing
Landlord licensing in Cambridge
✓ Hand-verified 28 May 2026Beyond mandatory HMO licensing, Cambridge 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.
One payment.
Cambridge, read 19 August 2026
Cambridge City Council operates mandatory HMO licensing only under the Housing Act 2004 (5+ persons forming 2+ households sharing facilities). The council has NOT designated any area for selective licensing as of April 2026. A 2024 council motion explicitly confirms that smaller HMOs with 3-4 occupants do not require a licence in Cambridge. Independent verification (Legislate, April 2026) confirms no selective licensing areas. HMO control in Cambridge is delivered primarily through Article 4 Directions and planning policy (Greater Cambridge Local Plan Policy H/MO), not through Part 3 licensing.
Cambridge does not operate an additional HMO licensing scheme. Smaller HMOs with 3-4 occupants are not subject to discretionary licensing. Mandatory HMO licence fee is £1,133 (or £1,000 if applied at least 8 weeks before existing licence expires) for the year 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027. Cambridge City Council is part of 3C Shared Services with Huntingdonshire and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.
Common questions
Does Cambridge have a selective licensing scheme?
No. Cambridge 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 Cambridge have an additional HMO licensing scheme?
No. Cambridge 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 Cambridge?
A mandatory HMO licence is required anywhere in England and Wales, including Cambridge, 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: Cambridge licensing page →
Every landlord in Cambridge 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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