Unlicensed HMOs in Ceredigion can lead to prosecution
Property Licensing Guide for Ceredigion
Ceredigion currently operates additional licensing in 5 wards; mandatory HMO licensing and Rent Smart Wales registration apply 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.
Ceredigion Property Licensing Schemes
Agents who manage an HMO in Ceredigion need a Rent Smart Wales licence, and the HMO itself needs a council licence if it falls under the mandatory or additional scheme. To check whether an HMO is licensed, ask Ceredigion Council for a copy of its HMO register, which the council’s fee schedule from 1 April 2026 prices at £57.
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Check a Ceredigion property →What are the licensing requirements for Ceredigion?
Mandatory licensing in Ceredigion
Mandatory HMO licensing applies across Ceredigion (and all of Wales) to larger HMOs. These are properties of three or more storeys 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 Ceredigion?
Additional licensing requires smaller HMOs in a designated area to be licensed. In Ceredigion the council’s designation covers HMOs of three or more people forming three or more households in eight Aberystwyth and Llanbadarn Fawr wards, and HMOs of five or more people forming two or more households anywhere in the county.
Ceredigion operates additional HMO licensing. The current designation is set out below.
Do I need a selective licence in Ceredigion?
Selective licensing requires almost all privately rented properties in a designated area to be licensed, regardless of the number of occupants.
Ceredigion does not currently operate a selective licensing scheme.
Additional licensing: 10 July 2024 to 9 July 2029, covering Aberystwyth Bronglais, Central, North, Penparcau and Rheidol, Faenor, Llanbadarn Fawr Padarn and Llanbadarn Fawr Sulien for HMOs of three or more people in three or more households, and the whole county for HMOs of five or more people in two or more households.
Mandatory HMO licensing: in force since 2006 for HMOs of three or more storeys with five or more people forming more than one household.
How do I apply for a licence?
You can apply for a licence via Ceredigion 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 |
|---|---|
| Mandatory HMO licence | £334 per habitable room |
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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Ceredigion Property Licensing FAQs
What licensing schemes does Ceredigion operate?
Ceredigion operates additional licensing (10 July 2024 to 9 July 2029), alongside the national mandatory HMO scheme. Landlords and agents in Ceredigion must also register or hold a licence with Rent Smart Wales. See the scheme details above.
Do all properties in Ceredigion need a licence?
No. Ceredigion Council does not run a selective licensing scheme, so a licence is needed only for an HMO. An HMO of three or more storeys with five or more occupiers needs a mandatory licence anywhere in Ceredigion. Under the additional scheme running from 10 July 2024 to 9 July 2029, an HMO of five or more occupiers in two or more households needs a licence anywhere in the county. In eight Aberystwyth and Llanbadarn Fawr wards, an HMO of three or more occupiers in three or more households also needs one. Landlords and agents must also register or hold a licence with Rent Smart Wales.
What if my property doesn't have a licence?
If a Ceredigion HMO that needs a licence has none, the landlord or manager commits an offence under section 72(1) of the Housing Act 2004 and can be prosecuted and fined with no upper limit. After a conviction, a rent repayment order of up to 12 months’ rent is possible. A landlord who is not registered with Rent Smart Wales, or has no licensed agent, cannot serve a valid notice to seek possession. A letting agent who manages the property can be prosecuted in the same way.
Can letting agents apply on behalf of landlords?
Yes. Letting agents can apply for HMO licences on behalf of landlords in Ceredigion, and many manage the full process.
How do I apply for a Ceredigion property licence?
Ceredigion Council takes HMO licence applications by email to Desh.Housing@Ceredigion.gov.uk or by post, using the forms on its application page. The fee is £334 per habitable room for the first 14 rooms for a new licence, and £281 for a renewal, under the schedule from 1 April 2026. You can also use a managed service such as Kamma.
Does Ceredigion have selective licensing?
No. Ceredigion Council does not operate selective licensing. It licenses HMOs under the mandatory scheme and the additional scheme, which runs from 10 July 2024 to 9 July 2029.
When did Ceredigion introduce additional licensing?
Ceredigion County Council’s Cabinet redesignated additional HMO licensing on 19 March 2024, following a consultation that closed on 23 February 2024. The scheme took effect on 10 July 2024 and runs to 9 July 2029. The council’s notice does not set out its reasons.
What are the conditions to obtain an HMO licence in Ceredigion?
Ceredigion Council assesses the fitness of the licence holder, the management arrangements, the suitability of the HMO for its number of occupants, and the equipment and facilities provided. Applications need a Gas Safe record, an electrical installation condition report, layout plans for each storey and proof of identity (application checklist).
About Ceredigion
Ceredigion County Council’s Cabinet redesignated additional HMO licensing on 19 March 2024, after a consultation that closed on 23 February 2024. The scheme runs from 10 July 2024 to 9 July 2029. Cambrian News, reporting the council’s review on 25 March 2024, cited 170 incidents of damp and mould in HMOs between 2019 and 2023.
Licensing Enforcement in Ceredigion
Ceredigion County Council is the licensing authority for HMOs in the county. Failing to apply for a licence is an offence under section 72(1) of the Housing Act 2004, and the council’s notice states the penalty is an unlimited fine. After a conviction the landlord can face a rent repayment order of up to 12 months’ rent. A landlord who lets without Rent Smart Wales registration can receive a fixed penalty notice of £150 or £250 or be prosecuted. Where a letting agent manages the property, the agent can be prosecuted in its own right, and agents in Wales must also hold a Rent Smart Wales licence.
