Additional HMO licensing in Wrexham
Yes. Wrexham operates an additional HMO licensing scheme. Letting a covered property without a licence risks a civil penalty of up to £40,000 and a rent repayment order of up to two years' rent.
Common questions
Do I need an additional HMO licence in Wrexham?
Yes. Wrexham operates an additional HMO licensing scheme. Letting a covered property without a licence risks a civil penalty of up to £40,000 and a rent repayment order of up to two years' rent.
When does Wrexham's scheme end?
The designation runs until 31 December 2026, unless the council revokes it earlier under section 84 of the Housing Act 2004.
What does the licence cost?
£898. Councils commonly discount for accredited landlords and early applications; confirm the current figure with Wrexham before budgeting.
One payment.
- Discounts listed
Wrexham, read 25 August 2026
What the designation says
Wrexham operates an additional HMO licensing scheme, cited as the Wrexham County Borough Council Additional Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation Scheme 2022. The council's Executive Board approved a new five-year scheme on 21 September 2021 and it began on 1 January 2022, so on a five-year term it runs to the end of 2026. Additional licensing brings houses in multiple occupation into licensing beyond the mandatory scheme. The council holds the full designation, which sets out the precise area and the descriptions of HMO caught, and a landlord should check a specific address against it rather than assume from a Wrexham postcode. Landlords in Wales must also register and be licensed through Rent Smart Wales, which is a separate requirement and does not replace this licence.
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 £40,000 per offence and a rent repayment order of up to two years' rent. Both maxima apply to conduct on or after 1 May 2026; before that date they were £30,000 and twelve months. Section 21 was abolished on 1 May 2026 and possession now runs through the amended section 8 grounds. Mandatory HMO licensing applies separately and everywhere, wherever a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households.
Information tool, not legal advice. Confirm the position with Wrexham before letting.