# Licensing in Spelthorne > Spelthorne 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: E07000213 - Web page: https://lettance.com/councils/spelthorne - API: https://lettance.com/api/v1/councils/spelthorne ## Licensing schemes ### Mandatory HMO licence: Mandatory HMO licensing (national scheme, Spelthorne fees) - Status: In force (`in_force`) - Area: Whole Spelthorne Borough Council area (national scheme). - Fee: Published standard fee: £2,225. Landlords page (last modified 23/06/2026): 'An application for new licence or a renewal is £2,225.00', made up of a £913 processing fee and a £1,312 maintenance fee. Late or incomplete application penalty £175; cancelled application £175. - Licence length: 5 years - Who needs one: HMOs occupied by five or more people forming two or more households who share facilities such as kitchens or bathrooms (national mandatory test, no storey limit). - Apply: https://spelthorne-self.achieveservice.com/service/Apply_for_a_House_in_Multiple_Occupation_Licence? - Confidence: High - How we checked this: The council says it 'does not currently operate any additional or selective licensing schemes', so HMOs with three or four occupants do not need a licence (they must still meet standards). 'Licences are now granted with a one, three or five-year licence period depending on a risk rating of the property' (risk-based system since April 2024); 5 years is the maximum. Licensing is run by the Environmental Health residential team. The May 2026 residents' guide reports 153 applications in progress and 62 properties under investigation as of April 2026. Planning permission under the Article 4 directions is separate from licensing. - Sources: https://www.spelthorne.gov.uk/page/1881/houses-multiple-occupation-hmo-landlords, https://www.spelthorne.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2026-05/HMOs%20Residents%27%20Guide%20-%20v6.pdf ## Article 4 for house shares Spelthorne has an Article 4 direction on HMOs (shared houses). Turning a family home into a shared house may need planning permission. - Area: Borough-wide, in two directions removing the C3 to C4 permitted development right. Direction 1, made 21 August 2024 and confirmed 18 February 2025, 'will come into effect on 29 August 2025' in Staines, Stanwell North, and Ashford North and Stanwell South wards. Direction 2, made 5 March 2025 and confirmed 17 December 2025, 'came into effect on 13 March 2026' in all remaining wards (Ashford Common, Ashford East, Ashford Town, Halliford and Sunbury West, Laleham and Shepperton Green, Riverside and Laleham, Shepperton Town, Staines South, Sunbury Common and Sunbury East). The council says 'Planning permission is now required to convert a dwelling house into any HMO' in all wards. - Takes effect: 29 August 2025 Council source: https://www.spelthorne.gov.uk/article/21892/Article-4-Directions ## 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. Community Wellbeing and Housing Committee on 2 June 2026 approved the Civil Financial Penalty Policy 2026 (with the Housing Enforcement Policy 2026 and EH General Enforcement Policy 2026), effective 9 June 2026 per the decision record (https://democracy.spelthorne.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?AIId=31600). The policy ('Civil Penalties Policy under the Renters' Rights Act 2025 and other housing legislation') uses £7,000 and £40,000 maxima, prescribed starting points, a 20% landlord-type adjustment and a 15% prompt-payment discount. Failure to obtain an HMO licence (s.72(1)) starts at £17,000 (£13,600 / £17,000 / £20,400); failure to obtain a selective licence £12,000. The landlords page still refers to penalties 'up to £30,000'. The previous 2023 financial penalty procedure applies to earlier offences. Policy: https://democracy.spelthorne.gov.uk/documents/s78526/Appendix%203%20Spelthorne%20BC%20Civil%20Financial%20Penalty%20Policy%202026.pdf ## Consultations We found no consultations when we researched Spelthorne. ## Not yet confirmed We could not settle these points when we researched Spelthorne on 26 October 2026. Check them with the council before you rely on them. - No selective or additional licensing proposal or consultation was found; the council's landlords page expressly says none is operated. - The exact Article 4 boundaries were taken from the council's ward list; the direction maps were not retrieved. - 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. Spelthorne 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 --- From Lettance: https://lettance.com/councils/spelthorne (catalogue edition 31 October 2026). This is information, not legal advice. Check the linked sources, and the council's own pages, before you act.