South East · Council licensing
Landlord licensing in Lewes
✓ Hand-verified 18 Aug 2026Beyond mandatory HMO licensing, Lewes 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.
Lewes 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.
Evidenced negative, council's own words (first-party research 18 Aug 2026, page last modified 13 May 2026): the council's HMO Supplementary Planning Document states "the Council operates a mandatory licensing scheme under the Housing Act 2004 as amended for HMOs with five or more occupants. In addition, the Council has the option to introduce discretionary additional or selective licensing in the future." Discretionary licensing is described as a future option, so none is in force. Lewes is administered jointly with Eastbourne and shares the HMO pages.
Evidenced negative, council's own words (first-party research 18 Aug 2026): the same Supplementary Planning Document confirms additional licensing is only an option for the future. The HMO threshold on the main page reads "A house in multiple occupation (HMO) is a property occupied by more than one household. Properties that are occupied by five or more, regardless of the number of storeys, must have a licence." Eastbourne, the shared-service partner, has an Article 4 Direction from 30 July 2025 in Devonshire, Meads, Upperton and part of St Anthonys; Lewes district itself has none. Article 4 is planning control, not licensing. Fees sit in an HMO Licence Fee Schedule 2026-2027 PDF; no figure captured.
Common questions
Does Lewes have a selective licensing scheme?
No. Lewes 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 Lewes have an additional HMO licensing scheme?
No. Lewes 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 Lewes?
A mandatory HMO licence is required anywhere in England and Wales, including Lewes, 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: Lewes licensing page →
Every landlord in Lewes 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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