East of England · Council licensing
Landlord licensing in South Cambridgeshire
✓ Hand-verified 19 Aug 2026Beyond mandatory HMO licensing, South Cambridgeshire 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, and the licence lasts 5 years.
| Each bedroom | £36 |
- Renewal £544 for up to 5 bedrooms, plus £24 per additional bedroom
South Cambridgeshire, read 19 August 2026
Evidenced negative by enumeration (first-party research 19 Aug 2026): the council HMO guidance page describes only the Housing Act 2004 definition and the mandatory regime, and names no s.80 selective designation. No consultation or committee decision 2020-2026 was found on scambs.gov.uk. South Cambridgeshire and Cambridge City share some services; no Cambridge City position is attributed here. Note: no licensing URL was previously held for this council; the correct private sector housing HMO section has now been recorded.
Evidenced negative by enumeration (first-party research 19 Aug 2026): the council HMO guidance page names no s.56 additional designation. Fee quoted verbatim with fee-year, from the council licence fees page (last reviewed 1 April 2026): "The application fee for a 5-year licence for 2026/2027 is £895 for up to 5 bedrooms, any additional bedrooms are priced at £36 per room. Renewal of the licence is £544 for up to 5 bedrooms, any additional bedrooms are priced at £24 per room." this row previously held a flat £1,100, which is not a figure South Cambridgeshire publishes.
Common questions
Does South Cambridgeshire have a selective licensing scheme?
No. South Cambridgeshire 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 South Cambridgeshire have an additional HMO licensing scheme?
No. South Cambridgeshire 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 South Cambridgeshire?
A mandatory HMO licence is required anywhere in England and Wales, including South Cambridgeshire, 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 East of England →
Source: South Cambridgeshire licensing page →
Every landlord in South Cambridgeshire 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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