East of England · Council licensing
Landlord licensing in Stevenage
✓ Hand-verified 19 Aug 2026Beyond mandatory HMO licensing, Stevenage 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.
Stevenage 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 HMO licensing page describes only mandatory licensing, stating "If you rent out a house in multiple occupation, you will need to apply to us for a licence", and names no s.80 selective designation. Stevenage has an HMO Article 4 Direction: the council planning FAQ states "The Article 4 direction relating to HMOs comes into effect on 20 September 2017". That is a planning control removing permitted development rights, NOT a licensing designation. Distinct from North Hertfordshire, East Hertfordshire, Welwyn Hatfield, Hertsmere and Hertfordshire County Council.
Evidenced negative by enumeration (first-party research 19 Aug 2026): the council HMO licensing page names no s.56 additional designation. On fees the council does publish an "HMO licence fees" section on its own HMO licensing page, but the figures are rendered behind a JavaScript accordion and could not be read in this pass, and no council-domain fee PDF was located. The previously held figure of £1,100 has been removed rather than carried forward, because it was not sourced from a Stevenage page and belongs to a repeated block of identical values found to be wrong in every case tested. render the fees accordion in a browser, or obtain the council fee schedule, and record the figure verbatim.
Common questions
Does Stevenage have a selective licensing scheme?
No. Stevenage 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 Stevenage have an additional HMO licensing scheme?
No. Stevenage 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 Stevenage?
A mandatory HMO licence is required anywhere in England and Wales, including Stevenage, 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: Stevenage licensing page →
Every landlord in Stevenage 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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