# Licensing in Waverley > Waverley 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: E07000216 - Web page: https://lettance.com/councils/waverley - API: https://lettance.com/api/v1/councils/waverley ## Licensing schemes ### Mandatory HMO licence: Mandatory HMO licensing (national scheme, Waverley fees) - Status: In force (`in_force`) - Area: The whole Borough of Waverley: 'Waverley operates a mandatory HMO licensing scheme that covers the entire Borough'. - Fee: Published standard fee: £807.70. Council HMO licence page (no update date shown): new application £807.70 per property; renewal after five years £710.50 per property; 11 to 15 units an additional £30.60; each unit above 15 an additional £12.20; £25 discount for members of an approved landlords association; late application an additional £100. Fees are paid at the end of the online application. - Licence length: 5 years - Who needs one: Properties rented to five or more people forming more than one household who share toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities; each such property needs its own licence (council HMO licence page). - Apply: https://waverley-central.oncreate.app/w/webpage/request?service=houses_in_multiple_occupation_licence_application - Confidence: High - How we checked this: Licences normally last five years; the council may issue a shorter licence, for example after a late application. Queries: 01483 523372 or privatesectorhousing@waverley.gov.uk. The public register is online at https://online.waverley.gov.uk/registers/index.html?fa=licence_register (a banner said it was temporarily unavailable for maintenance). The page states that 'no other licensing schemes are in operation or are being proposed'. The council's HMO standards document (V3.1) is linked from the landlords pages. - Sources: https://www.waverley.gov.uk/services/business-and-licensing/licences-and-registrations/house-in-multiple-occupation-hmo-licence, https://www.waverley.gov.uk/services/housing/private-sector-housing/landlords, https://www.waverley.gov.uk/services/housing/private-sector-housing/landlords/advice-for-landlords-and-agents ## Article 4 for house shares We found no Article 4 direction on house shares in Waverley. Council source: https://www.waverley.gov.uk/services/business-and-licensing/licences-and-registrations/house-in-multiple-occupation-hmo-licence ## 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. Joint Civil Financial Penalty Policy 2026 for Guildford Borough Council and Waverley Borough Council. The Guildford & Waverley Joint Executive Committee on 6 October 2026 (item 8, https://modgov.waverley.gov.uk/mgAi.aspx?ID=48036) resolved that 'The new Joint Housing Standards Enforcement Policy and Joint Civil Financial Penalty Policy for Guildford Borough Council and Waverley Borough Council be adopted', with powers under the Renters' Rights Act 2025 delegated to the Joint Director of Regulatory Services. The policy covers £7,000 breaches and £40,000 breaches and offences; failure to obtain an HMO licence (s.72(1)) starts at £17,000 (£13,600 / £17,000 / £20,400 by landlord type), maximum £40,000; failure to obtain a selective licence (s.95) is also covered. A 15% discount applies for prompt full payment. The previous Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy (latest publication January 2022, £30,000 maximum and a scoring matrix) is still linked from the council's landlord advice page; its operative date for offences after 6 October 2026 is not stated in the decision. Policy: https://modgov.waverley.gov.uk/documents/s77648/Appendix%202%20-%20Joint%20Civil%20Financial%20Penalty%20Policy%202026%20V02.pdf ## Consultations We found no consultations when we researched Waverley. ## Not yet confirmed We could not settle these points when we researched Waverley on 26 October 2026. Check them with the council before you rely on them. - Confirm from which date the Joint Civil Financial Penalty Policy 2026 (adopted 6 October 2026) applies, and whether the council website will replace the January 2022 enforcement policy it still links. - The HMO licence page shows no update date; confirm the fees are the current 2026/27 amounts. - 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. Waverley 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/waverley (catalogue edition 31 October 2026). This is information, not legal advice. Check the linked sources, and the council's own pages, before you act.