South East · Council licensing
Landlord licensing in Canterbury
✓ Hand-verified 18 Aug 2026Beyond mandatory HMO licensing, Canterbury 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.
Canterbury, read 19 August 2026
Evidenced negative by enumeration (first-party research 18 Aug 2026): the council page "Find out if you need an HMO licence" states "You must have a licence if you are renting out a large HMO in England or Wales. Your property is defined as a large HMO if all of the following apply: it is rented to five or more people who form more than one household; some or all tenants share toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities; at least one tenant pays rent." No additional or selective scheme is described anywhere on the HMO pages. permitted development rights for C3 to C4 HMO conversions were removed by Article 4 Direction in February 2016 - planning control, not licensing.
Evidenced negative by enumeration (first-party research 18 Aug 2026): the council page whose purpose is to tell landlords whether they need a licence describes the mandatory large-HMO test only, with no s.56 additional scheme anywhere on the HMO section. Fee published on the apply page: "Up to five people living there - GBP 1,498.97" and "Each additional person - GBP 86.64"; "A licence is valid for five years."
Common questions
Does Canterbury have a selective licensing scheme?
No. Canterbury 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 Canterbury have an additional HMO licensing scheme?
No. Canterbury 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 Canterbury?
A mandatory HMO licence is required anywhere in England and Wales, including Canterbury, 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 South East →
Source: Canterbury licensing page →
Every landlord in Canterbury 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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