Renting out a property in Brighton and Hove City Council — landlord rules & licensing

A starting-point reference for anyone letting a residential property in Brighton and Hove City Council. The rules on this page apply England-wide; the live links below let you confirm Brighton and Hove City Council's own licensing, housing standards and complaints processes.

Core legal requirements (England)

• Gas safety: annual CP12 certificate from a Gas Safe registered engineer.
• Electrical safety: EICR every 5 years (Electrical Safety Standards Regs 2020).
• EPC: minimum band E to let a new or renewing tenancy (MEES Regs 2015).
• Smoke & CO alarms: Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) (Amendment) Regs 2022.
• Right to Rent: Immigration Act 2014 — check every adult occupier.
• Deposit protection: protect within 30 days & serve Prescribed Information (Housing Act 2004).
• HMO / selective licensing: check Brighton and Hove City Council's position via the dedicated pages linked below.

FAQ

Do I need a licence to let a property in Brighton and Hove City Council? It depends on the property and the area. Any HMO occupied by 5+ people from 2+ households needs a mandatory HMO licence. Brighton and Hove City Council may also operate an additional HMO scheme (smaller HMOs) and/or a selective licensing scheme (most rented homes in a defined area). Check the linked council pages for the current position.

Which gas and electrical certificates does the council check? Councils don't pre-approve certificates, but in any enforcement check they expect a current annual Gas Safety Record (CP12), an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) issued within the last 5 years, and an EPC of at least band E. Keep PDFs of all three on file.

Where do I report a problem with a rented property or a rogue landlord? Report concerns to Brighton and Hove City Council's housing standards or private rented sector team via the council's own page (linked below). Tenants can also use GOV.UK's "Complain about a rented home" service for an overview of what to do first.

Sources: - GOV.UK — Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 — https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/2451/contents - legislation.gov.uk — Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 — https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/312/contents/made - GOV.UK — Domestic private rented property: minimum energy efficiency standard (MEES) — https://www.gov.uk/guidance/domestic-private-rented-property-minimum-energy-efficiency-standard-landlord-guidance - legislation.gov.uk — Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 — https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2022/707/contents/made - GOV.UK — Landlord's guide to right to rent checks — https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/right-to-rent-document-checks-a-user-guide - GOV.UK — Tenancy deposit protection — https://www.gov.uk/tenancy-deposit-protection - legislation.gov.uk — Housing Act 2004 — https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/34/contents - Brighton and Hove City Council — landlord licensing page — https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/housing/private-housing/private-landlords/selective-licensing - Brighton and Hove City Council — HMO licensing page — https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/housing/private-housing/private-landlords/houses-multiple-occupation/hmo-licence-fees-discounts-and-exemptions

Last verified: 2026-08-16. Reference data only — always check the council's own page before applying.