Newport: landlord licensing
Newport operates discretionary property licensing. Here is what is in force, what is coming, and how to check whether your property is affected.
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Active additional (HMO) licensing
Additional licensing extends HMO licensing to smaller shared houses (typically 3-4 sharers) that fall below the mandatory threshold.
Additional (HMO) licensing
activeAll wards of the City of Newport. Covers every HMO outside mandatory licensing that houses three or more people in more than two households.
- Dates
- 13 Feb 2025 – 12 Feb 2030
- Approx. fee
- £1,439.78 for a 3-5 person HMO; 6+ adds £78.70 per unit to a maximum of £1,991.84
Official local authority licensing designation
Recently expired
Additional (HMO) licensing
expiredPredecessor scheme, the Newport City Council Houses in Multiple Occupation Licensing Scheme 2019. Its expiry left a gap with no additional licensing in force until 13 February 2025.
- Dates
- not published – 30 Jun 2024
Official local authority licensing designation
Mandatory HMO licensing (applies everywhere in Wales)
Regardless of local schemes, a property in Newport needs a mandatory HMO licence where it has three or more storeys and is let to 5 or more people forming 2 or more households who share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet. Wales kept that three-storey test when England dropped it in 2018. Separately, every landlord in Wales must register with Rent Smart Wales, and must hold a licence too unless a licensed agent manages the property.
Penalties for operating unlicensed
- Fixed penalty notice of £150-£250 per offence from Rent Smart Wales.
- Unlimited fine on conviction in the magistrates' court.
- Rent Repayment Order of up to 12 months' rent, claimable by the tenant. The 24-month uplift applies in England only.
- A rent stopping order can be made, and you cannot serve a valid possession notice while unregistered or unlicensed.
Notes
Newport runs an additional HMO licensing scheme across every ward of the city, so almost all HMOs need a council licence, not just larger ones. It runs from 13 February 2025 to 12 February 2030. Fees start at £1,439.78 for a three to five person HMO.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a landlord licence in Newport?
Newport operates 1 additional (HMO) licensing scheme(s). Whether your specific property needs a licence depends on its exact location and how it is let. Separately, mandatory HMO licensing still applies, to properties of three or more storeys let to 5 or more people forming 2 or more households. Every Welsh landlord must also register with Rent Smart Wales.
What is the penalty for an unlicensed property in Newport?
Letting an unregistered or unlicensed property in Wales can lead to a fixed penalty notice of £150-£250, an unlimited fine on conviction, a Rent Repayment Order of up to 12 months' rent, and a rent stopping order. You also cannot serve a valid possession notice while unregistered or unlicensed.
Does your property need a licence?
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🏛️ Government-backed data: built from official local authority licensing designations, ONS council boundaries and UK housing legislation (Housing Act 2004), verified as of July 2026. PRSCheck is an information service, not legal advice. Many schemes are designated at street or part-ward level; the paid report confirms the exact boundary and official source for your address. Browse all councils.