South West · Council licensing
Landlord licensing in Gloucester
Gloucester operates discretionary property licensing. Letting an unlicensed property where a scheme applies risks a civil penalty of up to £30,000 and a rent repayment order — check whether your property is covered below.
Required for any HMO let to 5 or more people forming 2+ households who share facilities.
Gloucester 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.
No active selective licensing scheme in Gloucester. Gloucester City Council is not currently proposing or consulting on a selective licensing scheme for any ward. The council's 2026 HMO crackdown initiative focuses on additional licensing (for smaller HMOs) and planning controls (Article 4 Directions), not selective licensing of single-household lets. Landlords renting privately rented single-household properties in Gloucester are not required to obtain a selective licence regardless of which ward the property is located in.
NOT YET IN FORCE AS AT 19 AUGUST 2026. Established from gloucester.gov.uk. The designation was made in 2026 following Cabinet approval on 10 December 2025 and COMES INTO FORCE ON 21 SEPTEMBER 2026, running to 20 September 2031. Until that date there is no additional licensing requirement in Gloucester and only mandatory HMO licensing applies. THE FLAG ON THIS ROW STILL READS IN FORCE AND IS WRONG UNTIL 21 SEPTEMBER. It could not be corrected automatically because the flag transition guard requires a human.
Areas: Whole city, all wards. Smaller HMOs of 3 or 4 occupants and s.257 HMOs
One payment.
| Each licence after that date | £1,260 |
Gloucester — gloucester.gov.uk, read 19 Aug 2026
Scheme runs until: 20 September 2031
Common questions
Does Gloucester have a selective licensing scheme?
No. Gloucester 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 Gloucester have an additional HMO licensing scheme?
Yes, from 21 September 2026. Gloucester has designated an additional HMO licensing scheme that comes into force on 21 September 2026. A licence is not required before that date, but it will be from it.
Do I need an HMO licence in Gloucester?
A mandatory HMO licence is required anywhere in England and Wales, including Gloucester, 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
Additional HMO licensing in Gloucester: areas, dates and fees →
All property licensing in South West →
Source: Gloucester licensing page →
Every landlord in Gloucester 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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