East of England · Council licensing
Landlord licensing in Castle Point
✓ Hand-verified 18 Aug 2026Beyond mandatory HMO licensing, Castle Point 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.
Castle Point sets this fee under section 63(3) of the Housing Act 2004. Its current charge is not yet recorded here.
The council’s own licensing page carries the charge that applies today — confirm it there before you budget.
Not established is not the same as free.
Evidenced negative by enumeration (first-party research 18 Aug 2026): the council HMO page states "Under the provisions of the Housing Act 2004, an HMO licence is required when a property is rented out to five or more people who, together, form more than one household where some or all tenants share some facilities such as a toilet, bathroom or kitchen. The requirement to be licensed does not apply where a property is for fewer than five people." That final sentence settles the discretionary question: nothing below five persons is licensable here. The council HMO Policy dated 15 July 2026 is mandatory-licensing and standards guidance, not a designation.
Evidenced negative, council's own words (first-party research 18 Aug 2026): "The requirement to be licensed does not apply where a property is for fewer than five people." An additional licensing designation is what would catch three and four person HMOs, so this sentence establishes there is none. The only discretionary-threshold discussion on the page is the planning C3 to C4 permitted development point, which is not licensing. Essex HMO Amenity Standards revised May 2019 apply as standards.
Common questions
Does Castle Point have a selective licensing scheme?
No. Castle Point 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 Castle Point have an additional HMO licensing scheme?
No. Castle Point 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 Castle Point?
A mandatory HMO licence is required anywhere in England and Wales, including Castle Point, 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: Castle Point licensing page →
Every landlord in Castle Point 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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