Hertsmere: landlord licensing, explained and verified

The national rule applies everywhere in England: a house in multiple occupation with 5 or more occupants forming 2 or more households must be licensed. In Hertsmere, the standard licence fee is around £1306. Letting a licensable HMO without a licence risks a civil penalty of up to £30,000 or an unlimited fine.

Hertsmere currently has no additional licensing scheme on record. Only the national mandatory HMO rules apply to shared houses. Councils can designate new schemes after consultation, so this can change.

Hertsmere currently has no selective licensing scheme on record, so non-HMO rentals do not need a local licence today. Schemes are designated for 5 years at a time and new consultations appear regularly.

HMO Amenity Standards will be updated, with changes becoming effective from 25/11/2026. These updates will include revised minimum room sizes and other amenity requirements applicable to Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). These new standards may impact all HMO licence applications and variations received on or after this date. The full revised Amenity Standards document is expected to be published on the council's website shortly. A non-immediate Article 4 Direction for Houses in Multiple Occupation in Potters Bar was 'made' on 23/04/2026 and is scheduled to come into force on 06/05/2027, subject to confirmation. This direction will require planning permission for the conversion of existing dwellings (Use Class C3) into small HMOs (Use Class C4) for three to six residents within Potters Bar. The council conducted a consultation on this Article 4 Direction between 06/05/2026 and 17/06/2026. This change does not affect landlords who have already converted or plan to convert dwellings to large HMOs (seven or more inhabitants).

Letting an unlicensed property that needed a licence carries civil penalties of up to £30,000 per property (up to £40,000 for some offences under the Renters’ Rights Act), rent repayment orders of up to 24 months of rent. Possession runs through Section 8 since May 2026, and being unlicensed badly weakens a claim while unlicensed. “I didn’t know” is not a defence.

This page was last verified on 17 October 2026, and we keep it current as schemes and fees change. Rules and fees change (most councils revise fees each April), so always confirm with the council directly before applying.

Every English council sets its own schemes. Havant · Havering · Herefordshire · High Peak · Hillingdon · Hinckley and Bosworth · or browse all councils A to Z.