Additional HMO licensing in Telford and Wrekin

What the designation says

A borough-wide additional HMO licensing scheme has been designated in Telford and Wrekin and comes into force on 20 August 2026. Cabinet approved the designation in May 2026 following consultation, in which 57.4 per cent of respondents supported it, and the police, the fire service and Citizens Advice each made the case for a borough-wide scheme. It catches houses in multiple occupation with three or four tenants, which mandatory licensing does not reach. From 20 August 2026 the owner or manager of such a property must hold a licence, and every smaller HMO becomes subject to inspection for safety and hazard compliance, with the landlord required to manage matters such as anti-social behaviour in the same way as for a larger HMO. The scheme runs for five years. Mandatory HMO licensing continues to apply separately to properties let to five or more people forming two or more households.

What this means for a landlord

A licence must be in place before the property is let, not applied for afterwards. Operating unlicensed in a designated area is a criminal offence: a civil penalty of up to £30,000 per offence, a rent repayment order of up to twelve months' rent, and a section 21 notice that cannot be served while the property is unlicensed. Mandatory HMO licensing applies separately and everywhere, wherever a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households.

Telford and Wrekin's own licensing page →