Brighton Landlord Licensing Portal: How to Apply Online Step by Step

First: Make Sure You're on the Right Portal

Brighton and Hove has two separate landlord portals, and mixing them up is more common than the council probably realises.

The Property Licensing Portal (built on the Mendix platform) is where you apply for HMO and selective licences. This is what you need.

The Housing Benefit Landlord Portal is for landlords claiming Housing Benefit payments on behalf of tenants. Completely different system, completely different purpose.

Both come up in search results when you look for "Brighton landlord portal." If you end up registering on the Housing Benefit system and trying to submit a licensing application there, you'll waste time and still need to start over on the correct portal.

Before You Log In: Gather Everything First

The biggest mistake is starting the portal application before your documents are ready. If the council formally requests missing documents, you have 28 days to provide them; otherwise, the application is cancelled and Part A is forfeited.

What you need before opening the portal:

1. Verified ward location. Know which licence type you're applying for (mandatory HMO, additional HMO, or selective).
2. Gas Safety Certificate (CP12) — valid, within 12 months.
3. Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) — satisfactory, within 5 years.
4. PAT certificate — for HMO applications with landlord-supplied appliances.
5. Fire alarm certificate — for HMO applications (BS 5839 Grade D1/D2).
6. Energy Performance Certificate — valid, Band E minimum (Band C+ for the fee discount, or Band D/E if that is the property's maximum potential rating).
7. Dimensioned floor plan — room sizes in m², ceiling heights, fire routes.
8. Tenancy agreement(s).
9. Six-monthly inspection logs.
10. Fit-and-proper-person details — for you and any managing agent.

The Application Process

Once your documents are assembled:

Register and create an account on the Property Licensing Portal. You'll need an email address and contact details.

Select the correct licence type. The portal asks whether you're applying for mandatory HMO, additional HMO, or selective. Choosing wrong can mean rejection — a selective licence application for a property that actually needs an HMO licence won't be processed.

Enter property details. Address, number of storeys, number of bedrooms, number of current occupants and their household relationships.

Declare legal roles. Name the proposed licence holder, the person having control (usually the owner), and the person managing (could be the owner or an agent). Each person needs a fit-and-proper declaration covering unspent convictions.

Upload documents. The portal has separate upload fields for each document type. Upload PDFs or clear scans — photographs of paper documents work if they're legible.

Pay Part A. Debit or credit card payment through the portal. The application is "duly made" once all uploads are complete and Part A clears.

Serve statutory notices. Under the licensing regulations, you must notify all interested parties — freeholders, joint owners, mortgage lenders, leaseholders, and managing agents — that an application has been made.

After Submission

The council reviews the application and issues a draft decision (Notice of Intent) with proposed conditions and occupancy limits. You and any served interested parties have 14 calendar days to submit written representations if you object to any conditions.

After that window closes, the council issues the final decision and sends a Part B payment link by email. You have 10 working days to pay. Licence is issued once Part B clears.

The Brighton and Hove Landlord Licensing Guide includes a portal submission checklist so you can verify everything before you click submit.

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