Additional HMO licensing in Newport
Yes. Newport operates an additional HMO licensing scheme. Letting a covered property without a licence risks a civil penalty of up to £30,000, a rent repayment order of up to twelve months' rent, and the loss of the right to serve a section 21 notice.
What the designation says
Newport operates an additional HMO licensing scheme. The current designation began on 13 February 2025 and ends on 12 February 2030, renewing the scheme the council ran before that date. Additional licensing brings houses in multiple occupation into licensing beyond the mandatory scheme, and the council uses it to regulate property conditions and to satisfy itself that the licence holder and the manager are fit and proper persons. The precise designated area has not been confirmed here, so a landlord should check a specific address against the council's designation before letting. Landlords in Wales must also register and be licensed through Rent Smart Wales, which is a separate requirement and does not replace this licence.
What this means for a landlord
A licence must be in place before the property is let, not applied for afterwards. Operating unlicensed in a designated area is a criminal offence: a civil penalty of up to £30,000 per offence, a rent repayment order of up to twelve months' rent, and a section 21 notice that cannot be served while the property is unlicensed. Mandatory HMO licensing applies separately and everywhere, wherever a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households.
Information tool, not legal advice. Confirm the position with Newport before letting.