Licensing Scheme to Improve Rented Homes for Tenants in Reading Now Live

A licensing scheme aimed at improving properties for Reading renters is now in force, requiring more landlords of privately rented homes to obtain a licence. 

Reading is home to a high number of rental properties. In order to help further drive up standards for the town’s many thousands of tenants, Reading Borough Council recently introduced a borough-wide Additional Licensing scheme to support a more proactive approach to improving property conditions and management standards across the town’s private rented sector. 

The scheme came into effect in Reading on 1 March 2026 and applies to certain houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) not covered by the mandatory HMO licensing scheme. Under it, landlords must apply for an Additional Licence if they rent out a property in Reading which: 

• Is occupied by three or four people; 
• Forms two or more households (for example, three unrelated friends, or a couple sharing with another person); and 
• Has shared facilities such as a kitchen, bathroom or toilet. 

This requirement applies irrespective of the number of storeys and includes single-storey flats as well as properties of two, three or more storeys. 

Previously, only HMOs with five or more occupants required a licence under the national mandatory scheme. The new designation requires landlords to hold a valid licence if they rent smaller shared properties across the whole borough. 

Landlords of affected properties are required to submit an application, as those who have not applied by 31 May could face a late application fee or enforcement action. They will need to provide the necessary safety and compliance documentation, pay the relevant licence fee and comply with the conditions attached to the licence. A separate licence is required for each property that falls within the scope of the scheme. Under the scheme, all licensed properties will be subject to inspection to ensure they meet the required standards. 

Reading Borough Council has appointed Home Safe as its delivery partner for the scheme. Home Safe will work in partnership with the Council to manage the application process and support inspection and compliance activity. 

Matt Yeo, Lead Councillor for Housing at Reading Borough Council said:  

"We know that Reading is home to a high number of rental properties, which is why the Council intends to do all it can to further drive up living standards for the many thousands of tenants who live in them.

“Our additional licensing scheme aims to improve property conditions, increase our ability to enforce better private rented standards and target areas where we anticipate the most issues. We are pleased with engagement from the sector to date.  We are reminding landlords and agents that it is a criminal offence for an agent to operate or manage a licensable property without a valid licence in place" 

Mike Brook, Scheme Manager at Home Safe, said: 

“We are pleased to be working in partnership with Reading Borough Council to deliver its Additional Licensing Scheme. Our role is to support a clear and straightforward application process, while helping ensure properties meet the required standards. 

“Guidance for landlords and agents, together with the online application portal, is available on the Home Safe website. We urge anyone who believes their property falls within the scope of the scheme to review the criteria and submit an application as soon as possible. If you are unsure whether your property falls within the scope of the scheme, you should contact Reading Borough Council or Home Safe for guidance.” 

The fee for an Additional Licence is £1,500 for up to five years. This is split into two parts: 

• £750 payable on submission of the application 
• £750 payable when the draft licence is issued 

The fee is to cover the costs of operating the scheme, including application processing and compliance checks forming of two inspections. Home Safe is holding bookable sessions at the Civic Centre on 21 May to help any landlords who need assistance with the application process. 

Landlords who submit a late application may face a £250 surcharge. It is a criminal offence to operate a licensable property without submitting a valid application. Landlords who fail to apply may face a civil penalty of up to £30,000 per offence or prosecution and an unlimited fine. 

Further information on eligibility and how to apply is available via the Council’s website at www.reading.gov.uk/hmo  and the Home Safe application portal https://home-safe.org.uk/landlords/licence-schemes