Wales · Council licensing
Landlord licensing in Powys
✓ Hand-verified 19 Aug 2026Beyond mandatory HMO licensing, Powys 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.
Powys 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 by enumeration (first-party research 19 Aug 2026): the council's licences and permits HMO page publishes only a "Register of Mandatory Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)" and names no s.80 selective designation anywhere in the county. Rent Smart Wales is a national regime under the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 and is not a Housing Act 2004 designation. Distinct from Ceredigion, Merthyr Tydfil, Shropshire and Herefordshire.
Evidenced negative in the council's own words (first-party research 19 Aug 2026): a Powys Cabinet report dated 20 December 2016 on powys.moderngov.co.uk recommended that the council's prior s.257-based additional licensing scheme "be revoked", recording that the higher-risk converted-flat properties had been brought into compliance and were "by definition, no longer section 257 HMOs". No replacement s.56 designation has been made since and the current council page publishes a mandatory HMO register only. Mandatory fee sits on the council licence fees page (en.powys.gov.uk/article/5185) and was not captured first-party in this pass.
Common questions
Does Powys have a selective licensing scheme?
No. Powys 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 Powys have an additional HMO licensing scheme?
No. Powys 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 Powys?
A mandatory HMO licence is required anywhere in England and Wales, including Powys, 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
- Selective licensing explained: who needs it, how to check
- Additional HMO licensing: the scheme for small shared houses
- Selective, additional or mandatory: which licence applies
- Do I need a licence to rent out my house?
Welsh letting law is not English letting law. These cover what actually applies here.
All property licensing in Wales →
Source: Powys licensing page →
Every landlord in Powys also needs
A valid Gas Safety certificate (annual), an EICR (every 5 years), a valid EPC, a protected deposit, and smoke & CO alarms. In Wales you must also be licensed with Rent Smart Wales (or use a licensed agent), issue a written occupation contract and the accompanying written statement, and comply with the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 — which replaced assured shorthold tenancies with occupation contracts and ended Section 21 in Wales in December 2022. The England-only How to Rent guide and Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet do not apply here.
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