Do I need a landlord licence in Hastings?

In Hastings, the national mandatory HMO rules always apply — and whether extra local licensing affects you depends on the council’s current schemes below.

Mandatory HMO licensing (national)

Yes, everywhere in England

This is national law, not a council choice: any property rented to 5 or more people who form 2 or more separate households is a licensable HMO anywhere in England. If that describes your property, you need a licence from the council whether or not it runs any local scheme.

Official council source →

Selective licensing in Hastings

None that we know of

Hastings' selective licensing scheme covering all private rented homes in seven wards (Braybrooke, Castle, Central St Leonards, Gensing, Old Hastings, Ore and Tressell) ran from 26 October 2015 and expired on 25 October 2020. It has not been redesignated, and the council's current licensing pages list fees only for mandatory HMO licensing. As of our last check we found no selective licensing scheme in Hastings — but always confirm on the council’s page, because councils can designate new schemes at any time.

Official council source →

Additional HMO licensing in Hastings

None that we know of

The additional HMO licensing designation (covering most section 257 HMOs and some smaller section 254 HMOs in the four town-centre wards of Braybrooke, Gensing, Castle and Central St Leonards) came to an end on Wednesday 3 May 2023. The council states there are no immediate plans to consult on a further additional HMO licensing scheme. As of our last check we found no additional licensing scheme in Hastings — but always confirm on the council’s page, because councils can designate new schemes at any time.

Official council source →

Is your exact property covered?

Designations in Hastings can run street by street. Check where your property stands in 3 minutes — free, no account.

Get your free compliance scoreFull audit + call — £99

Common questions

Do I need a landlord licence in Hastings?
It depends on the property: larger HMOs (5 or more people from 2 or more households) always need a mandatory licence anywhere in England, and Hastings’s own selective or additional schemes can extend licensing to other rentals — see the current position above.
What happens if I let an unlicensed property in Hastings?
Letting a licensable property without a licence is a criminal offence: unlimited fines on conviction or civil penalties of up to £30,000, a rent repayment order of up to 12 months’ rent, and restrictions on regaining possession.
How do I check if my exact address is inside a licensing area?
Designations are often street-by-street. Check the map or address checker on Hastings’s licensing pages (linked above), or take our free compliance score and we’ll flag licensing as something to verify for your property.
How much does a landlord licence cost?
Fees are set per council and per scheme, typically several hundred pounds per property for a five-year licence. Hastings’s current fees are on the official page linked above.
Can LetClerk handle the licence application for me?
Yes — checking your address against current schemes and preparing the application is part of our done-for-you compliance service. Start with the free score or the £99 audit and we’ll take it from there.