East of England · Council licensing
Landlord licensing in Three Rivers
✓ Hand-verified 19 Aug 2026Beyond mandatory HMO licensing, Three Rivers 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.
Three Rivers 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 page states "Under Part 2 of the Housing Act 2004, a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) must be licensed if it is occupied by five or more people forming two or more separate households, and tenants share facilities such as a kitchen or bathroom. This is known as mandatory HMO licensing." No s.80 selective designation is named. Distinct from Watford, Hertsmere, Dacorum, St Albans and Hertfordshire County Council; Three Rivers and Watford have had shared service arrangements.
Evidenced negative on the council's own committee record (first-party research 19 Aug 2026): a January 2026 committee review on moderngov.threerivers.gov.uk decided NOT to progress additional licensing for HMOs and NOT to progress an Article 4 direction, with a review in twelve months. The record notes only 13 licensed HMOs in the district and "no smaller area within the district with a substantial concentrated proliferation of HMOs". A new HMO licensing policy covering neighbour notification was approved. On fees, no figure is published on the service page; it sits in the Three Rivers Fees and Charges 2026/27 schedule and the HMO Licensing Policy PDF. read the Fees and Charges 2026/27 schedule and record the figure verbatim. the additional licensing decision is due to be reviewed around January 2027.
Common questions
Does Three Rivers have a selective licensing scheme?
No. Three Rivers 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 Three Rivers have an additional HMO licensing scheme?
No. Three Rivers 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 Three Rivers?
A mandatory HMO licence is required anywhere in England and Wales, including Three Rivers, 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: Three Rivers licensing page →
Every landlord in Three Rivers 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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