Brighton and Hove will introduce selective licensing requirements for privately rented homes in certain areas of the city.

Brighton and Hove City Council has confirmed that landlords operating in Central Hove and Regency will need to obtain selective licences for their rental properties from 20 October 2026.

The council stated that the scheme covers all private rental accommodation, with the exception of properties with existing exemptions or licences, and Houses in Multiple Occupation that already fall under the authority’s mandatory or additional HMO licensing programmes.

The designation was made on 6 July 2026 and does not need endorsement from the Secretary of State, as it comes under a general approval granted by the Secretary of State in 2024.

The licensing requirement will remain valid for five years unless cancelled earlier.

Owners of properties in the affected zones should get in touch with the council to determine whether their accommodation is subject to the new requirement.

Applications for licences will become accessible through the Brighton and Hove City Council website from 20 October.

The council cautioned that operating a rental property without the required licence constitutes a criminal offence, potentially resulting in a financial penalty, enforcement action, loss of management rights, or a rent repayment order.

Additionally, landlords who fail to obtain a licence cannot issue an eviction notice using Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.

The designation documentation can be viewed at Hove Town Hall on Norton Road between 9.30am and 4.30pm on weekdays, though visitors must book an appointment with the Private Sector Housing Team beforehand.