South East · Council licensing
Reading operates discretionary property licensing. Letting an unlicensed property where a scheme applies risks a civil penalty of up to £30,000 and a rent repayment order — check whether your property is covered below.
Required for any HMO let to 5 or more people forming 2+ households who share facilities.
Fee: £1500
Reading Borough Council does NOT currently operate any selective licensing scheme as of April 2026. The council has approved plans to introduce selective licensing in phases: Battle ward is proposed to come first (targeted for 2027), followed by Park ward (2029), then possibly Redlands ward. None of these selective licensing schemes have been formally designated yet - designations will follow in phases and each will require a statutory standstill period before coming into effect. When introduced, selective licensing will apply to all privately rented properties occupied by a single household (not HMOs) in the designated wards. Rent Guarantee Scheme landlords will receive a heavily discounted fee of £250 (vs £750 standard or £650 for accredited landlords) in the Battle ward scheme.
Areas: Battle ward initially, with plans to extend to Redlands and Park wards in phases over the next few years
Fee: Not yet published - expected to be lower than HMO licence fee
Reading Borough Council operates a borough-wide additional HMO licensing scheme that came into force on 1 March 2026 and runs for 5 years until 28 February 2031. It applies to all HMOs not already subject to mandatory licensing, requiring landlords of HMOs with 3 or 4 occupants to apply for a licence. Individual flats occupied as HMOs within converted buildings (section 257) and purpose-built blocks also require a licence (though whole-building section 257 HMOs are excluded). Reading already had approximately 1,400 HMOs licensed under the mandatory scheme, with more than 3,000 HMOs estimated total - 37% thought likely to have serious hazards. Nearly 40% of Reading's housing stock is in the PRS. Administered by Home Safe. Agent registration opened 1 February 2026; landlord applications opened 1 March 2026. Property inspections planned to commence around September 2026. An Article 4 Direction also applies in Park, Redlands and Katesgrove wards restricting HMO conversions under planning rules.
Areas: The whole area of the borough of Reading
Fee: £1500
Scheme runs until: 28 February 2031
Source: Reading licensing page →
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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