South East · Council licensing
Landlord licensing in Folkestone and Hythe
✓ Hand-verified 18 Aug 2026Beyond mandatory HMO licensing, Folkestone and Hythe 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.
Folkestone and Hythe, read 19 August 2026
Evidenced negative by enumeration (first-party research 18 Aug 2026): the council HMO licence page states "All HMOs with five or more people making up two or more families will need a licence to operate. This applies regardless of their size." Only mandatory licensing is published; no selective designation on the council domain and no consultation found 2020-2026.
Evidenced negative by enumeration (first-party research 18 Aug 2026): the council presents the mandatory five-person threshold as the only licensing trigger, with no s.56 additional designation. Fee: "Application fee GBP 1130. Renewal fee GBP 960", inclusive of VAT, page carrying a 2026 copyright.
Common questions
Does Folkestone and Hythe have a selective licensing scheme?
No. Folkestone and Hythe 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 Folkestone and Hythe have an additional HMO licensing scheme?
No. Folkestone and Hythe 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 Folkestone and Hythe?
A mandatory HMO licence is required anywhere in England and Wales, including Folkestone and Hythe, 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: Folkestone and Hythe licensing page →
Every landlord in Folkestone and Hythe 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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