← All councils
Landlord Licensing Guide
Somerset Council has no licensing scheme currently found
Unitary · South West · Last researched 2026-09-03
Selective licensing in Somerset Council
✓ No selective scheme found
Researched with no evidence of a live scheme. Licensing status changes on a weeks-to-months cadence, not annually — this is why we date every page.
Additional licensing in Somerset Council
⚠ UNVERIFIED
A real area-based additional scheme (active since January 2014, with a distinctive real condition requiring HMOs to reach a minimum EPC 'E' rating within two years) was documented under the pre-2023 Somerset County Council structure. Whether this scheme carried over, lapsed, or was absorbed into the new unitary Somerset Council's own policy after the April 2023 reorganisation was not confirmed from available sources — marked unknown rather than assumed either way, this being a genuinely different situation from the separate, distinct North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset unitary councils. Confirm directly with Somerset Council before letting.
National obligations that apply everywhere in England
These apply regardless of Somerset Council's own licensing rules — every England landlord is on the hook for these:
- Annual Gas Safety Certificate (CP12) — Any property with gas — unlimited fine and/or imprisonment on conviction if missing.
- Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) — Every rental property — a live legal requirement in England since 2020.
- Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) — Every rental property — currently rated E or above to be let legally.
- Tenancy deposit protection — Any deposit taken — must be protected in a government-approved scheme within 30 days.
- Right to Rent checks — Every tenant — landlords must verify immigration status before letting.
- PRS Landlord Database registration — Phasing in nationally 2026–2028 under the Renters' Rights Act — a new, separate requirement from council licensing.
Related guides
Information, not legal advice. Compiled from public sources on 2026-09-03; licensing schemes change on a weeks-to-months cadence, not annually, so always confirm directly with Somerset Council before relying on this for a real letting decision. Overall confidence for this page: low.