Torfaen: landlord licensing
Torfaen does not currently run a selective or additional licensing scheme, but mandatory HMO licensing still applies. Here is the full picture.
Check a property in Torfaen
Enter your postcode for an instant scheme check, then get the property-specific report.
Free scheme check · £7.99 for the full property report
Mandatory HMO licensing (applies everywhere in Wales)
Regardless of local schemes, a property in Torfaen 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
Torfaen has no selective or additional licensing scheme. Only mandatory HMO licensing applies: three or more storeys and five or more occupiers. A licence costs £708 for five years. Rent Smart Wales registration is a separate national requirement for all Welsh landlords.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a landlord licence in Torfaen?
Torfaen does not currently operate a selective or additional licensing scheme. However, 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 Torfaen?
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?
Enter your postcode for an instant free check of every scheme that could apply.
Free scheme check · £7.99 for the full property report
🏛️ 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.