South West · Council licensing
Landlord licensing in Dorset
✓ Hand-verified 18 Aug 2026Beyond mandatory HMO licensing, Dorset 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, and the licence lasts 5 years.
- Discount applies for landlords committing to the standards required by the Landlord Forum or one of the three main national landlord associations
Dorset — dorsetcouncil.gov.uk, read 19 Aug 2026
Evidenced negative by enumeration (first-party research 18 Aug 2026): the council HMO hub states "By law, HMOs with 5 or more occupants, who share a bathroom, toilet or kitchen must be licenced with us. It is a serious criminal offence to have a HMO without a licence." Only mandatory licensing is published; no selective designation. A Guide to HMO Licensing consultation on the council domain relates to mandatory guidance, not a designation.
Evidenced negative by enumeration (first-party research 18 Aug 2026): mandatory five-person threshold presented as the only licensing trigger; no s.56 designation on the council domain. Fee: "From 1 April 2026, we now charge GBP 900 for the first 5 year licence and GBP 740 to renew for a further 5 years. A 10 percent discount applies for landlords committing to the standards required by the Council Landlord Forum or a recognised landlord association. Fees for these members are reduced to GBP 810 for a new licence and GBP 666 for a renewal."
Common questions
Does Dorset have a selective licensing scheme?
No. Dorset 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 Dorset have an additional HMO licensing scheme?
No. Dorset 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 Dorset?
A mandatory HMO licence is required anywhere in England and Wales, including Dorset, 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: Dorset licensing page →
Every landlord in Dorset 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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