South East · Council licensing
Landlord licensing in Dartford
✓ Hand-verified 18 Aug 2026Beyond mandatory HMO licensing, Dartford 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.
Dartford, read 19 August 2026
Evidenced negative by enumeration (first-party research 18 Aug 2026): the council HMO page states "The Housing Act 2004 requires Local Authorities to license certain types of houses which are in multiple occupation... Licensable HMOs are currently those of 5 or more persons in two or more households. (There is one exception - a purpose-built flat being occupied by 5 persons as an HMO which is situated in a block comprising three or more self-contained flats will not require a licence). It is a criminal offence to operate a licensable HMO without a licence." No selective designation is published. The council document titled draft HMO policy is a mandatory-licensing and standards policy sitting as annex 2 of the Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy, NOT a discretionary licensing proposal; nothing progressed to a Part 2 or Part 3 designation.
Evidenced negative by enumeration (first-party research 18 Aug 2026): the council presents licensable HMOs as those of five or more persons in two or more households only, with no s.56 designation published. Fee: "HMO Licence Fees 2025/26: A five year licence fee costs GBP 905" and "A five year re-licence fee costs GBP 695". phased borough-wide Article 4 Directions - from 9 December 2025 all new HMOs north of the A2 require planning permission, and from 10 December 2026 all new HMOs south of the A2. That is HMO pressure handled through planning rather than licensing.
Common questions
Does Dartford have a selective licensing scheme?
No. Dartford 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 Dartford have an additional HMO licensing scheme?
No. Dartford 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 Dartford?
A mandatory HMO licence is required anywhere in England and Wales, including Dartford, 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: Dartford licensing page →
Every landlord in Dartford 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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