South West · Council licensing
Landlord licensing in West Devon
✓ Hand-verified 19 Aug 2026Beyond mandatory HMO licensing, West Devon 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.
West Devon 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 states "HMOs must be licensed by the council if the property is let to five or more people who form two or more households. All HMOs are subject to control under the Housing Act 2004 and standards laid out in regulations." Only mandatory licensing is described across the West Devon HMO pages and no s.80 selective designation is named. Note the previously held URL was the generic licensing hub and has been replaced. West Devon runs a shared service with South Hams and applications go to licensing@swdevon.gov.uk; evidence on westdevon.gov.uk belongs to West Devon. Distinct from Torridge, North Devon, Teignbridge, Plymouth and Devon County Council.
Evidenced negative by enumeration (first-party research 19 Aug 2026): the West Devon HMO pages, including the mandatory licensing fact sheet, name no s.56 additional designation. On fees, the West Devon licensing and environmental health fees page could not be read this pass. The shared-service partner South Hams publishes "The HMO Licence fee is £446.40... The Fit and Proper fee is £144.00", but that figure belongs to South Hams and has NOT been copied across. The previously held figure of 850 has been removed because it cannot be traced to a West Devon page. read the West Devon licensing and environmental health fees page directly and record West Devon's own figure.
Common questions
Does West Devon have a selective licensing scheme?
No. West Devon 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 West Devon have an additional HMO licensing scheme?
No. West Devon 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 West Devon?
A mandatory HMO licence is required anywhere in England and Wales, including West Devon, 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: West Devon licensing page →
Every landlord in West Devon 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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