South West · Council licensing
Landlord licensing in Cotswold
✓ Hand-verified 18 Aug 2026Beyond mandatory HMO licensing, Cotswold 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.
Cotswold 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 "Some HMOs will also require a licence from the council if the property meets the following criteria: occupied by five or more people, forming two or more households; AND tenants share facilities such as kitchen or bathrooms" and "The licence for your HMO is valid for a maximum of five years". A Cabinet report of 10 July 2025 records "Currently there are 42 HMOs licensed by the Council" and amends the fee and licence period from three to five years from 1 September 2025 - an administrative change to the mandatory scheme, not a discretionary designation.
Evidenced negative by enumeration (first-party research 18 Aug 2026): only mandatory five-person licensing is published, and the July 2025 Cabinet report dealing with HMO licensing concerns fee and period for that scheme alone. No s.56 designation exists on the council domain. Licence period increased from three to five years effective 1 September 2025; the amended fee figure was not published in a form we could quote, so no mandatory fee is recorded.
Common questions
Does Cotswold have a selective licensing scheme?
No. Cotswold 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 Cotswold have an additional HMO licensing scheme?
No. Cotswold 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 Cotswold?
A mandatory HMO licence is required anywhere in England and Wales, including Cotswold, 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 West →
Source: Cotswold licensing page →
Every landlord in Cotswold 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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