# Licensing in Stroud

> Stroud 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 West
- ONS code: E07000082
- Web page: https://lettance.com/councils/stroud
- API: https://lettance.com/api/v1/councils/stroud

## Licensing schemes

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

- Status: In force (`in_force`)
- Area: The whole of Stroud District (national scheme).
- Fee: Published standard fee: £1,398. Council HMO page: 'The mandatory HMO licensing fee is £1398 for a 5 year licence per property.' Paid in two parts: an initial non-refundable £403 with the application, and the remaining £995 before the licence is issued if approved. A second council URL indexed by search quoted £1,380 (£397 + £983), apparently an earlier figure; the live page fetched shows £1,398.
- Licence length: 5 years
- Who needs one: HMOs with five or more tenants forming two or more households who share facilities (national test). The council's 2026 enforcement policy says 'The Council currently only issues licenses for national mandatory licensing, where 5 or more tenants' occupy.
- Exemptions: Statutory exemptions under Schedule 14 to the Housing Act 2004.
- Apply: https://www.stroud.gov.uk/business/licensing-permits/houses-in-multiple-occupancy-hmo/
- Licence conditions: https://www.stroud.gov.uk/media/24ml2tvg/hmo-standards.pdf
- Confidence: High
- How we checked this: Apply online through GOV.UK or by emailing/posting the Word form to Environmental Health, Ebley Mill. Applications are processed within 8 weeks. The enforcement policy says licences are issued for 5 years once fully validated, but may be reduced (usually to 12 months) where there are doubts about the manager or licence holder, with no fee reduction. The council publishes an HMO licensing register.
- Sources: https://www.stroud.gov.uk/business/licensing-permits/houses-in-multiple-occupancy-hmo/, https://www.stroud.gov.uk/media/44lmvo4l/private-sector-housing-enforcement-policy.pdf, https://www.stroud.gov.uk/housing/private-housing/information-for-private-landlords/

## Article 4 for house shares

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

Council source: https://www.stroud.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/conservation-biodiversity-listed-buildings-trees-and-hedgerows/conservation-areas-and-conservation-area-statements/article-4-directions-in-conservation-areas/

## 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.

The council's Information for private landlords page lists its adopted policies, including 'Civil Penalties Under The Renters' Rights Act' and the Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy (Version 2, April 2026, agreed under delegated authority from Housing Committee). The civil penalty policy follows the statutory starting points with a 'Landlord Type' adjustment: failure to obtain an HMO licence (s.72(1)) starting point £17,000 (downward £13,600, upward £20,400), statutory maximum £40,000. The enforcement policy's summary still mentions 'Civil penalties of up to £30,00[0] for specific offences'.

Policy: https://www.stroud.gov.uk/media/blcfs2sd/civil-penalties-under-the-renters-rights-act.pdf

## Consultations

We found no consultations when we researched Stroud.

## Not yet confirmed

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

- Absence of additional or selective licensing rests on the April 2026 enforcement policy statement that the council 'currently only issues licenses for national mandatory licensing' and on web searches; no later proposal was found.
- Absence of an HMO Article 4 direction rests on the council's conservation-area Article 4 page and the empty planning.data.gov.uk record; the council does not state it expressly.

## Landlord register

The national landlord register is separate from licensing. Stroud is in South West, where registration is planned from 15 August 2027 to 14 November 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/stroud (catalogue edition 31 October 2026). This is information, not legal advice. Check the linked sources, and the council's own pages, before you act.