Bristol, City of Council Is Moving To Data-Led Enforcement
Property Licensing Guide for Bristol, City of
Bristol currently operates selective licensing and additional licensing; mandatory HMO licensing applies everywhere. Last checked: 20 October 2026.
This free guide will provide you with the key details regarding what licensing requirements are necessary in this area and how to apply for a licence.
New to this? Read our overview: What is selective licensing?
Bristol is in the South West registration window for the PRS database, which opens on 15 August 2027: see when landlords in the South West have to register on the PRS database.
Bristol, City of Property Licensing Schemes
Check the address against the ward lists below first. A shared house with three or four people forming more than one household needs an additional HMO licence in Bristol. One with five or more people needs a mandatory HMO licence.
Is manual compliance causing a headache for your agency? At Kamma, we specialise in automating licensing compliance for agents across the UK. If you need any assistance in getting your property portfolio compliant, find out how we can help letting agents here.
Not sure whether a Bristol property needs a licence? Kamma's free checker covers selective, additional and HMO schemes.
Check a Bristol property →What are the licensing requirements for Bristol, City of?
Mandatory licensing in Bristol, City of
Mandatory HMO licensing applies across Bristol, City of (and all of England) to larger HMOs. These are properties occupied by five or more people forming more than one household, including:
- Shared houses and flats occupied by students and young professionals.
- Properties converted into bedsits with some shared facilities.
- Properties converted into a mix of self-contained and non-self-contained accommodation.
Do I need an additional property licence in Bristol, City of?
Additional licensing requires smaller HMOs in a designated area to be licensed. That means a privately rented property with three or more people forming more than one household.
Bristol, City of operates additional HMO licensing. The current designation is set out below.
Do I need a selective licence in Bristol, City of?
Selective licensing requires almost all privately rented properties in a designated area to be licensed, regardless of the number of occupants.
Bristol, City of operates selective licensing. The current designation is set out below.
Additional licensing: 6 April 2022 to 5 April 2027, covering Bedminster, Brislington West and Horfield.
Additional licensing: 6 August 2024 to 5 August 2029, covering Ashley, Avonmouth and Lawrence Weston, Bedminster, Bishopston and Ashley Down, Bishopsworth, Brislington East, Brislington West, Central, Clifton, Clifton Down, Cotham, Easton, Eastville, Filwood, Frome Vale, Hartcliffe and Withywood, Henbury and Brentry, Hengrove and Whitchurch Park, Hillfields, Horfield, Hotwells and Harbourside, Knowle, Lawrence Hill, Lockleaze, Redland, Southmead, Southville, St George Central, St George Troopers Hill, St George West, Stockwood, Stoke Bishop, Westbury-on-Trym and Henleaze and Windmill Hill.
Selective licensing: 6 April 2022 to 5 April 2027, covering Bedminster and Brislington West.
Selective licensing: 6 August 2024 to 5 August 2029, covering Bishopston and Ashley Down, Cotham and Easton.
Mandatory HMO licensing: in force since 2006 for HMOs of five or more people forming more than one household.
How do I apply for a licence?
You can apply for a licence via Bristol, City of Council’s website here. Or let Kamma’s expert team process the application for you.
How much does a licence cost?
Licence fees
| Licence | Fee |
|---|---|
| Additional HMO licence | £1,861 per property |
| Mandatory HMO licence | £1,886 per property |
Fees as published by the council, verified 20 July 2026; subject to change. See the council’s fee page for full schedules, payment stages and discounts.
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Bristol, City of Property Licensing FAQs
What licensing schemes does Bristol, City of operate?
Bristol City Council operates three licensing schemes. Mandatory HMO licensing applies citywide. Additional HMO licensing applies citywide from 6 August 2024 to 5 August 2029. Selective licensing applies in Bedminster and Brislington West until 5 April 2027, and in Bishopston and Ashley Down, Cotham and Easton until 5 August 2029.
Do all properties in Bristol, City of need a licence?
Not every Bristol property needs a licence. Selective licensing covers privately rented homes in five wards. HMOs with three or four people need an additional licence anywhere in Bristol, and HMOs with five or more people need a mandatory licence.
What if my property doesn't have a licence?
Letting a licensable property in Bristol without a licence can bring a civil penalty of up to £40,000 per property. The landlord also risks a rent repayment order of up to 24 months’ rent. A letting agent who manages the property or collects the rent commits the offence too and can be fined separately.
Can letting agents apply on behalf of landlords?
Yes. Letting agents can apply for property licences on behalf of landlords in Bristol, and many manage the full process. Bristol City Council takes applications through its online licence application page.
How do I apply for a Bristol, City of property licence?
Apply through Bristol City Council’s property licence application page. Fees are paid in two instalments, and the council lists them on its fees page. You can also use a managed service such as Kamma.
Why did Bristol, City of introduce selective licensing?
Bristol City Council describes its licensing schemes as a response to poor housing conditions and poor management practices in designated areas. Its earlier Central scheme (July 2019 to July 2024) issued 3,800 licences, and the council reports that 97% of properties failed to meet the licence conditions at first inspection.
Why did Bristol, City of introduce additional licensing?
Additional HMO licensing covers smaller HMOs that the mandatory scheme does not reach. In Bristol it applies to HMOs of three or more people forming more than one household, citywide since 6 August 2024. The earlier Central scheme ended in July 2024 with 12 civil penalty notices and 3 rent repayment orders, per the council.
What are the conditions to obtain an HMO licence in Bristol, City of?
Bristol City Council sets licence conditions for HMOs on its licence standards and conditions page. The conditions cover fire safety, amenities, room sizes and management.
About Bristol, City of
Bristol has licensed private rented housing in designated areas since 2013, when the Stapleton Road scheme began. Eastville and St George followed from 2016 and the Central area from 2019. The 2024 schemes cover the whole city for HMOs of three or more people, plus selective licensing in Bishopston and Ashley Down, Cotham and Easton. Bedminster and Brislington West have had selective and additional licensing since 6 April 2022, and Horfield has had additional licensing since the same date.
Licensing Enforcement in Bristol, City of
Bristol City Council reports 4 prosecutions and 10 civil penalty notices under its Eastville and St George scheme (2016 to 2021), and 12 civil penalty notices and 3 rent repayment orders under the Central scheme (2019 to 2024). Letting a property without the required licence risks prosecution and civil penalties of up to £40,000 per property. The landlord can also face a rent repayment order of up to 24 months’ rent. Where a letting agent manages the property or collects the rent, the agent commits the offence too and can be fined in its own right.
