Warwick District Council HMO and selective licensing
Warwick District Council administers mandatory HMO licensing for properties with 5+ persons from 2+ households across the whole district. Additional licensing has operated in high-HMO-concentration areas of Leamington Spa. Always verify current requirements with the council before letting.
- Mandatory HMO licence required: 5+ occupants, 2+ households
- Additional licensing may apply in student corridor areas � check the council register
- Licence conditions include minimum room sizes, fire detection, and emergency lighting
- Operating without a required licence is a criminal offence
Renters' Rights Act 2025
From 1 May 2026, all English tenancies including Leamington Spa operate under the RRA 2025 framework:
- Section 21 abolished � all possessions require a statutory ground
- All new lets are periodic from day one
- Ground 4A provides mandatory possession for full-time student lets between June and September
- Property Portal registration and PRS Ombudsman membership mandatory before letting
- Rent increases via statutory Section 13 notice only
EPC and safety requirements
Leamington Spa's Regency and Victorian terraced stock presents Band C improvement challenges:
- Current minimum: EPC Band E
- Band C target confirmed for 2030; solid-wall properties may need solid wall insulation � cost cap exemption available if �15,000 spent without reaching Band C
- Annual gas safety certificate (CP12) mandatory; 5-yearly EICR mandatory
- Smoke alarms on every storey; CO alarms in every room with a gas appliance
- Deposit: 5 weeks' rent protected in a government-approved scheme within 30 days