Landlord licence Cardiff: what you need, where, and what it costs
Do you need a landlord licence in Cardiff? Every Cardiff landlord must register with Rent Smart Wales, and may need a Rent Smart Wales licence too. On top of that, you need a council HMO licence for large HMOs anywhere in Cardiff, and for smaller HMOs in Cathays. This page sets out every scheme Cardiff Council currently runs, the fees as published, and how Cardiff's rented housing compares with the rest of England and Wales, using Census 2021 figures. We last re-checked the council's pages on 21 October 2026.
Published · Updated
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Cardiff landlord licensing at a glance
| Scheme | In force? | Where it applies | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent Smart Wales registration | Yes | All of Wales | Ongoing |
| Additional HMO licensing, Cathays | Yes | Cathays | 1 February 2023 for 5 years |
| Additional HMO licensing, Plasnewydd | Expired 31 December 2025; re-declaration being consulted on | Plasnewydd | n/a |
| Mandatory HMO licensing | Yes | All of Cardiff | Ongoing |
Sources: Cardiff Council pages listed under Sources, checked 21 October 2026.
How big is the private rented sector in Cardiff?
At the 2021 Census, 35,785 of Cardiff's 147,333 households rented privately. That's 24.3% of households, against 20.3% across England and Wales as a whole. By number of privately renting households, Cardiff ranked 25 of the 331 local authorities in England and Wales; by share it ranked 58. For comparison, 85,427 households (58.0%) owned their home and 25,278 (17.2%) rented socially.
About a quarter of Cardiff households rent privately, the largest private rented sector of any council in Wales. A council scrutiny report says 3,600 HMOs were licensed in Cardiff over the last five years: 1,504 in Cathays and 878 in Plasnewydd under additional licensing, and the rest under mandatory licensing.
Mandatory HMO licensing in Cardiff
In Wales, mandatory HMO licensing covers properties of 3 storeys occupied by 5 or more people in 2 or more households, according to a Cardiff Council scrutiny report from October 2026. That's narrower than in England, where the storey test no longer applies.
Cathays and Plasnewydd additional licensing
Cardiff's Shared Regulatory Services says the Cathays additional licensing scheme went live again on 1 February 2023 for 5 years. It covers most rented properties with 3 or more occupiers forming 2 or more households, regardless of storeys. Plasnewydd's scheme expired on 31 December 2025; in October 2026 Cabinet considered a public consultation on re-declaring it. Until a new designation is made, smaller HMOs in Plasnewydd need no additional licence.
Cardiff landlord licence fees
As published by Shared Regulatory Services, fees are paid as an initial £160 plus a second payment that depends on size and whether the property is compliant. For an HMO shared house or single flat up to 4 bedrooms, the total is £390 if compliant or £810 if not. For 5 to 9 bedrooms, £410 or £860. For 10 to 15 bedrooms, £440 or £910. For 15 or more bedrooms, £460 or £960. The council says a review of licensing fees is scheduled for 2026/27.
Do I need a landlord licence in Cardiff? A quick check
- Register with Rent Smart Wales. Every private landlord in Wales must.
- If you do your own letting and management, get a Rent Smart Wales licence too; otherwise appoint a licensed agent.
- If 5 or more people from 2 or more households share facilities in a 3-storey property, you need a mandatory HMO licence from the council.
- If 3 or more people from 2 or more households share facilities in Cathays, you need an additional HMO licence.
Rent Smart Wales: separate from council licensing
Every private landlord in Wales must register with Rent Smart Wales, whatever council licensing applies. Rent Smart Wales lists registration at £60 online or £102 by paper for a new registration, and £48 online or £87 standard for a renewal made within the 84 days before it expires. Landlords who carry out letting and management tasks themselves also need a Rent Smart Wales licence; landlords who don't must appoint a licensed agent. Registration and licensing with Rent Smart Wales are not the same as an HMO licence from Cardiff Council, and you may need both.
If a Cardiff HMO goes unlicensed
Cardiff licensed 3,600 HMOs over five years, so the council has a clear view of shared housing, especially in Cathays. GOV.UK says renting out an unlicensed HMO in England or Wales can mean an unlimited fine. Separately, letting without Rent Smart Wales registration is its own breach, so check both.
Cardiff HMO licence conditions
Shared Regulatory Services says a full licence is valid for 5 years, the GOV.UK maximum, and is issued after an inspection and a draft licence. GOV.UK's standard HMO conditions include sending an updated gas safety certificate to the council every year, keeping smoke alarms installed and providing electrical safety certificates on request. Cardiff charges a higher fee if a property isn't compliant at inspection, so having certificates ready saves money.
Keeping Cardiff licence paperwork in order with Gaffy
In Cardiff, being compliant at inspection is the difference between £390 and £810 for a smaller HMO. Gaffy keeps each property's gas safety certificate, EICR and EPC with expiry dates flagged, and tenants report repairs through a phone link with photos. It costs £12 a month for up to 5 properties, plus £4 a month for each extra property, with the first month free, and we'll set your properties up for you. We don't apply for licences or Rent Smart Wales registration.
FAQ
Do I need a licence to rent out a house in Cardiff?
You must register with Rent Smart Wales, and you may need a Rent Smart Wales licence and a council HMO licence depending on how you manage and let.
How much is an HMO licence in Cardiff?
From £390 (compliant) to £810 (non-compliant) for a shared house up to 4 bedrooms, rising with size, as published by Shared Regulatory Services.
Is Plasnewydd still licensed?
The Plasnewydd additional scheme expired on 31 December 2025. The council is consulting on re-declaring it.
How much is Rent Smart Wales registration?
£60 online or £102 on paper for a new registration.
How many people rent privately in Cardiff?
At the 2021 Census, 35,785 households in Cardiff rented privately, 24.3% of all households (ONS, Census 2021 table TS054).
Is this legal advice?
No. It's general information drawn from Cardiff Council's published pages, checked 21 October 2026. Schemes and fees in Cardiff can change, so confirm with the council before you let or apply.
Other landlord rules
- Landlord licensing in Wales
- Gas Safety Certificate for Landlords: Rules, Cost and Renewal
- EICR for Landlords: When You Need One, How Often and What C1, C2, C3 and FI Mean
- Landlord Compliance Checklist UK 2026 (Free Printable PDF)
- EPC Rules for Landlords in England and Wales: Minimum Rating, Expiry and Penalties
- Deposit Protection for Landlords: The 30-Day Rule and Prescribed Information
- Pricing
- Gas safety certificate expiry calculator
Sources
- Shared Regulatory Services, HMO licensing in Cardiff
- Cardiff Council, Community and Adult Services Scrutiny Committee papers, 12 October 2026
- Cardiff Council, Cabinet report on Plasnewydd HMO licensing, 15 October 2026
- ONS, Census 2021, TS054 Tenure, via Nomis
- GOV.UK, House in multiple occupation licence
- Rent Smart Wales, landlord registration
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