Property licensing

Changes to property licensing

The existing Additional and Selective Licensing Designations will cease to have effect on 30 June 2024. The designations can be found on the Property licensing schemes section. Landlords of properties affected by either of the designations, will not be required to make a licence or renewal application after that date.

Please note: until 30 June 2024 operating a property required to be licensed under the Selective or additional schemes, without a licence is an offence.

Landlords may apply for a selective or additional licence online (Metastreet).

You can also apply for Temporary Exemption Notice (TEN) using Metastreet, which, if granted, will exempt property from the requirement to licence for 3 months. Further information on TENs and the criteria under which the Council may grant a TEN can be found in our Licensing decisions policy.

Unexpired licences

Unexpired, Selective or Additional HMO licences, will remain operative until they expire or are revoked, and licence holders should continue to comply with the licence conditions while their licence remains operative.

The Council will continue to determine licence applications submitted up to 30 June 2024 in accordance with its Licensing decisions policy. Please email privatesectorhousing1@slough.gov.uk if you have any queries about your existing application.

The Council is reviewing the outcomes of the schemes. Residents, landlords and agents will be informed about the outcome of the review and consulted on any proposed designation.

If you are unsure

If you are unsure about whether you need to apply for a licence, or the type of application you need to make, please contact the housing regulation team at privatesectorhousing1@slough.gov.uk and an officer will contact you.

Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)

If you operate an HMO, which is licensable under the Mandatory HMO Licensing requirements, you MUST apply for a Licence. Operating an HMO required to be licensed, without a licence is an offence under section 72 of the Housing Act 2004. Please review the information on HMOs.