South West · Council licensing
Landlord licensing in Swindon
✓ Hand-verified 19 Aug 2026Beyond mandatory HMO licensing, Swindon 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.
Paid in two parts — one on application, the balance before the licence is issued, and the licence lasts 5 years.
Swindon, read 19 August 2026
Evidenced negative by enumeration (first-party research 19 Aug 2026): the council HMO pages describe only mandatory licensing at the 5 or more persons in 2 or more households threshold and name no s.80 selective designation. No designation notice, cabinet report or consultation 2018-2026 was found on swindon.gov.uk or its committee portal. Distinct from Wiltshire Council, which is a separate unitary.
Evidenced negative by enumeration (first-party research 19 Aug 2026): the council HMO pages name no s.56 additional designation. Fee for 2026/27 from 1 April 2026 is two-part, banded by occupant count, and differs between online and paper applications: up to 10 occupants, online £800.23 plus £673.88 for a total of £1,474.11, paper total £1,755.18; more than 10 occupants, online £905.52 plus £779.18 for a total of £1,684.70, paper total £1,965.48. The first part is non-refundable. The council states "We usually issue an HMO licence for five years."
Common questions
Does Swindon have a selective licensing scheme?
No. Swindon 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 Swindon have an additional HMO licensing scheme?
No. Swindon 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 Swindon?
A mandatory HMO licence is required anywhere in England and Wales, including Swindon, 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 South West →
Source: Swindon licensing page →
Every landlord in Swindon 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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