# Licensing in Runnymede

> Runnymede has no selective or additional licensing scheme in force.

- Checked 26 Oct 2026 (researched_at 2026-10-26, verified_at 2026-10-26)
- Region: South East
- ONS code: E07000212
- Web page: https://lettance.com/councils/runnymede
- API: https://lettance.com/api/v1/councils/runnymede

## Licensing schemes

### Mandatory HMO licence: Mandatory HMO licensing (national scheme, Runnymede fees)

- Status: In force (`in_force`)
- Area: Whole Runnymede Borough Council area (national scheme).
- Fee: Published standard fee: £815. The council's 'Licensing large houses in multiple occupation' page says 'The basic fee is £815 per licence', plus £93 where the managing agent is different to the licence holder, and a total of £1,027 per licence where the applicant needs help or submits an incomplete application; a £93 reduction applies to the second property and those thereafter; all fees are non-refundable. The separate renewal page gives a renewal basic fee of £723 per licence, with the same £93 managing-agent addition and £1,027 assisted/incomplete total. No page date is shown on either page (footer '© 2026').
- Licence length: 5 years
- Who needs one: HMOs occupied by five or more people forming two or more households who share basic amenities (national mandatory test, no storey limit).
- Apply: https://hmolicensing.runnymede.gov.uk/HMOPortalLive/ServiceRequests/Default/MyServicesLogin
- Licence conditions: http://www.runnymede.gov.uk/downloads/file/450/runnymede-hmo-standards
- Confidence: High
- How we checked this: The licensing page states 'No additional or selective licensing schemes are currently in operation' and 'Licences last five years'. Applications are made by downloading the application form and submitting it through the HMO licensing portal. The HMO standards PDF is linked from the HMO section page.
- Sources: https://www.runnymede.gov.uk/general-licenses/houses-multiple-occupation-hmo/2, https://www.runnymede.gov.uk/general-licenses/houses-multiple-occupation-hmo/3, https://www.runnymede.gov.uk/general-licenses/houses-multiple-occupation-hmo

## Article 4 for house shares

Not yet confirmed: whether Runnymede has an Article 4 direction on house shares.

Council source: https://democracy.runnymede.gov.uk/mgAi.aspx?ID=4804

## Civil penalty policy

The council's policy sets how it decides the size of a fine. The version we found has been updated for the Renters' Rights Act.

'Private Sector Housing: Civil Penalty Policy', headed 'Effective 1st May 2026' and 'Civil penalties under the Renters' Rights Act 2025 and other housing legislation', linked from the council's Enforcement and Civil Penalty policies page. It sets £7,000 and £40,000 statutory maxima, prescribed starting points by offence, a landlord-type adjustment of 20% down or up, further mitigating/aggravating adjustments of up to 20% each, and a 15% discount for full payment within the final-notice period. Failure to obtain an HMO licence (s.72(1)) has a £17,000 starting point (£13,600 / £17,000 / £20,400 by landlord type); knowingly permitting over-occupation of an HMO £20,000. The HMO licensing page still refers to civil penalties 'of up to £30,000'.

Policy: https://www.runnymede.gov.uk/downloads/file/1608/civil-penalty-notice-protocol

## Consultations

We found no consultations when we researched Runnymede.

## Not yet confirmed

We could not settle these points when we researched Runnymede on 26 October 2026. Check them with the council before you rely on them.

- No selective or additional licensing scheme, proposal or consultation was found. The HMO licensing page expressly says none is in operation; the December 2023 scrutiny minutes record the view that additional licensing was unlikely to give material relief; committee-document searches for "selective licensing" and "additional licensing" return no results.
- Whether the C3 to C4 Article 4 work for Egham Town and Englefield Green has progressed through the Local Plan review after 2023 was not established; no direction, notice or consultation was found.
- The new-licence fee (£815) and renewal fee (£723) pages carry no date; confirm the current fee with the Private Sector Housing team.
- Surrey local government reorganisation: Mole Valley's published notice says two unitary councils, East Surrey Council and West Surrey Council, 'will replace the existing 12 councils in April 2027' (https://www.molevalley.gov.uk/privacy-notice-local-government-reorganisation/); this council falls in West Surrey. HMO licensing will then be run by the new council; check its fees and any new schemes after that date.

## Landlord register

The national landlord register is separate from licensing. Runnymede is in South East, where registration is planned from 15 March 2027 to 14 June 2027. The regulations are still in draft. Read about the register: https://lettance.com/register

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From Lettance: https://lettance.com/councils/runnymede (catalogue edition 31 October 2026). This is information, not legal advice. Check the linked sources, and the council's own pages, before you act.