South East · Council licensing
Landlord licensing in Guildford
✓ Hand-verified 18 Aug 2026Beyond mandatory HMO licensing, Guildford 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.
Guildford, read 19 August 2026
Evidenced negative, council's own words (first-party research 18 Aug 2026, page carrying a 2026 copyright): the council's Do I need a HMO licence page states "If there are three or four unrelated tenants living in the property that share facilities, this is still a HMO. This property will not need a HMO licence from us." That sentence settles the discretionary question directly. No selective designation exists on the council domain and no consultation was found 2020-2026.
Evidenced negative, council's own words (first-party research 18 Aug 2026): "This property will not need a HMO licence from us" said of three and four person HMOs is precisely what an additional licensing designation would catch, so no s.56 scheme operates. Fee: "The fee for this licence is GBP 1037.34", with discounts of GBP 25 for a recognised landlord organisation or GBP 50 for an accredited Guildford Letting Scheme landlord, not combinable.
Common questions
Does Guildford have a selective licensing scheme?
No. Guildford 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 Guildford have an additional HMO licensing scheme?
No. Guildford 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 Guildford?
A mandatory HMO licence is required anywhere in England and Wales, including Guildford, 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: Guildford licensing page →
Every landlord in Guildford 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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