Additional HMO licensing in Ceredigion
Yes. Ceredigion 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 Ceredigion?
Yes. Ceredigion 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 Ceredigion does the scheme cover?
County-wide for larger and section 257 HMOs; designated Aberystwyth wards additionally for three-person, three-household HMOs. Confirm a specific address against the council's own designation map before applying.
When does Ceredigion's scheme end?
The designation runs until 9 July 2029, unless the council revokes it earlier under section 84 of the Housing Act 2004.
Charged for each letting in the property.
| Per room | £334 |
| Each room | £334 |
| Each room | £281 |
- Discount for qualifying ANUK-compliant student HMOs
- Renewal £281
- Renewals 90/10
Ceredigion, read 24 August 2026
What the designation says
An additional HMO licensing scheme is in force in Ceredigion. The designation was made on 19 March 2024, came into force on 10 July 2024 and ceases to have effect on 9 July 2029. It is known as Ceredigion County Council's Additional HMO Licensing Scheme 2024 and it operates on two levels. Across the whole county it catches houses in multiple occupation occupied by five or more people forming two or more households, and section 257 HMOs, meaning buildings converted into flats that do not meet the 1991 Building Regulations standard. Within the designated wards of Aberystwyth it reaches further, catching HMOs occupied by three or more people forming three or more separate households. Properties exempted by the relevant sections of the Housing Act 2004 are outside the scheme. Because the Aberystwyth tier is narrower than the county-wide one, an address in the town should be checked against the designation rather than assumed. Landlords in Wales must also register and be licensed through Rent Smart Wales, which is a separate requirement.
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 Ceredigion before letting.