Landlords paying £millions for Council Licensing

It is a complex time to be a landlord or a letting agent. As we enter 2026, the regulatory landscape is shifting from a series of local administrative hurdles into a high-stakes, national compliance environment.

The data from property tech company Kamma highlights a “perfect storm”: councils are taking advantage of reduced government oversight (the removal of Secretary of State approval) just as the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 provides local authorities with more powerful enforcement “teeth.”

The 2026 Licensing Roadmap

According to Kamma, 16 new council licensing schemes are scheduled to launch in Spring 2025 while 49 schemes were introduced nationwide in 2025. While many councils have existing HMO (House in Multiple Occupation) rules, these new “Selective Licensing” schemes are now increasingly covering standard single-family rentals as well.

Matthew Dean

11th January 2025.