Additional HMO licensing in Flintshire
Yes. Flintshire 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 Flintshire?
Yes. Flintshire 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 Flintshire does the scheme cover?
County-wide — the whole of Flintshire. Confirm a specific address against the council's own designation map before applying.
When does Flintshire's scheme end?
The designation runs until 31 March 2031, unless the council revokes it earlier under section 84 of the Housing Act 2004.
Flintshire publishes this much: NOT ESTABLISHED. Flintshire County Council Additional Licensing (HMO) Scheme 2026 was designated 14 October 2025, applies county-wide, and runs 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031 (consultation 2 April to 11 June 2025, Cabinet report s90468). The public notice says only that fees will be published. Read the additional licensing page or the HMO fees table and record the figure.
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.
What the designation says
An additional HMO licensing scheme is in force across the whole of Flintshire. The council designated it on 14 October 2025 under sections 56 to 60 of the Housing Act 2004 and the Welsh HMO licensing regulations, and it is known as the Flintshire County Council Additional Licensing (Houses in Multiple Occupation) Scheme 2026. It took effect on 1 April 2026 and ceases to have effect on 31 March 2031 unless revoked or extended before then. It applies to every house in multiple occupation in the county that is not already covered by mandatory licensing, in either of two categories: any HMO as defined by section 254 of the Act occupied by three 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 and have not since been brought up to standard. Operating without a licence where one is required is an offence under section 72 carrying an unlimited fine, and the landlord may be required to repay up to two years' rent for offences on or after 1 May 2026 (12 months before that date) collected while the property was unlicensed. Landlords in Wales must also be registered and licensed through Rent Smart Wales, which is a separate requirement and does not replace this one.
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 Flintshire before letting.