South East · Council licensing
Landlord licensing in New Forest
✓ Hand-verified 19 Aug 2026Beyond mandatory HMO licensing, New Forest 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.
New Forest, read 19 August 2026
Evidenced negative by enumeration (first-party research 18 Aug 2026): the council private housing page states "From 1 October 2018, the mandatory licensable HMO definition has been varied to 5 or more unrelated persons who form 2 or more households. This new definition removes the 3 or more storeys element which was previously in place." Only mandatory licensing appears; no selective designation on the council domain. this is New Forest District Council at newforest.gov.uk, NOT Waltham Forest, a London borough with its own selective scheme. The two have been confused by automated searches before.
Evidenced negative by enumeration (first-party research 18 Aug 2026): the council presents the mandatory five-person regime as the only licensing operating, with no s.56 additional designation. A committee report titled New Houses in Multiple Occupation Licence Application Fee is a fee-setting decision, not a designation. Fee published in instalments, with instalment one at GBP 317.
Common questions
Does New Forest have a selective licensing scheme?
No. New Forest 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 New Forest have an additional HMO licensing scheme?
No. New Forest 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 New Forest?
A mandatory HMO licence is required anywhere in England and Wales, including New Forest, 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: New Forest licensing page →
Every landlord in New Forest 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.
Check your New Forest property in 30 seconds
Free, no account — see exactly what applies to your property, then let Landlord HQ track every deadline from £9.99/mo.