# Licensing in Tewkesbury > Tewkesbury 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: E07000083 - Web page: https://lettance.com/councils/tewkesbury - API: https://lettance.com/api/v1/councils/tewkesbury ## Licensing schemes ### Mandatory HMO licence: Mandatory HMO licensing (national scheme, Tewkesbury fees) - Status: In force (`in_force`) - Area: The whole of Tewkesbury Borough (national scheme). - Fee: Published standard fee: £1,200. Consolidated fee list 2026/2027 (v.2), 'House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Licences': initial application fee (non-refundable) £336.00; further fee payable before issue of a licence (successful applications) £864.00; additional fee for HMOs with more than five occupants £41.00 per additional person. No separate renewal rate is listed. - Licence length: 5 years - Who needs one: HMOs occupied by five or more people forming two or more households who share facilities such as a kitchen or bathroom. The council's page adds that purpose-built flats are included where there are up to two flats in the block and one or both are occupied by five or more people in two or more households, including flats above shops; each such flat needs its own licence. - Exemptions: Statutory exemptions under Schedule 14 to the Housing Act 2004. - Apply: https://tewkesbury.gov.uk/services/licensing-and-permits/housing/houses-in-multiple-occupation/ - Licence conditions: https://tewkesbury.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Amenities-Facilities-and-Management-Standards-October-2023.pdf - Confidence: High - How we checked this: Application is by the council's HMO licensing application form (August 2021) with guidance notes. The council says to apply as soon as the property becomes licensable or as soon as you take control of it. The guidance notes linked from the HMO page say 'The licence is valid for a period of five years', counted from the date the application is duly made (or from the previous licence's expiry on renewal by the same holder). An HMO register (updated 14 August 2026) is published. The 2026/27 fee list (licensing fees with effect from 1 April 2026) shows no separate renewal rate. - Sources: https://tewkesbury.gov.uk/services/licensing-and-permits/housing/houses-in-multiple-occupation/, https://tewkesbury.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Consolidated-fee-list-for-2026-2027-v.2.pdf, https://tewkesbury.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Guidance-notes-for-HMO-licensing-application-August-2021-New.pdf ## Article 4 for house shares Not yet confirmed: whether Tewkesbury has an Article 4 direction on house shares. Council source: https://tewkesbury.gov.uk/services/planning/conservation/conservation-areas-and-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. The Executive on 13 July 2026 (item 21) approved amendments to the Civil Penalties Policy for the Renters' Rights Act 2025 (decision subject to call-in). The approved policy, 'Financial Penalties for Housing Offences under the Renters Rights Act & other housing legislation', 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. It was found in the Executive papers; no copy was located on the council's housing pages, and the council's 2021 Environmental Health enforcement policy still refers to civil penalties 'up to £30,000'. Policy: https://minutes.tewkesbury.gov.uk/documents/s72306/Appendix%201-%20Proposed%20Civil%20Penalty%20Policy.pdf ## Consultations We found no consultations when we researched Tewkesbury. ## Not yet confirmed We could not settle these points when we researched Tewkesbury on 26 October 2026. Check them with the council before you rely on them. - No additional or selective licensing scheme, proposal or consultation was found on the council's HMO page (mandatory licensing only) or in web searches. The council does not state the absence. - The adopted July 2026 civil penalty policy is published in the Executive papers only; whether call-in was exercised was not checked, though no later reversal was found. - Article 4: whether Tewkesbury has an HMO (C3 to C4) Article 4 direction is not confirmed. Checked: the council's conservation areas and Article 4 page (conservation-area directions only) and planning.data.gov.uk (no Article 4 records for the council). None was found, but absence is inferred, not stated by the council; confirm with its planning team. ## Landlord register The national landlord register is separate from licensing. Tewkesbury 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 --- From Lettance: https://lettance.com/councils/tewkesbury (catalogue edition 31 October 2026). This is information, not legal advice. Check the linked sources, and the council's own pages, before you act.