What licensing schemes does Great Yarmouth operate?

Great Yarmouth operates selective licensing (1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031), alongside the national mandatory HMO scheme. See the scheme details above.

Do all properties in Great Yarmouth need a licence?

It depends on the scheme and your property. Where selective licensing applies, most privately rented homes need a licence; HMOs fall under mandatory or additional licensing depending on size and occupancy.

What if my property doesn't have a licence?

Operating a property that requires a licence without one can bring civil penalties of up to £40,000 per property. The landlord also risks a rent repayment order of up to 24 months' rent and cannot serve a Section 21 notice. A letting agent who manages the property or collects the rent commits the offence too and can be fined separately.

Can letting agents apply on behalf of landlords?

Yes. Letting agents can apply for property licences on behalf of landlords in Great Yarmouth, and many manage the full process.

How do I apply for a Great Yarmouth property licence?

You can apply through Great Yarmouth Council's website ( licensing pages ), or use a managed service such as Kamma.

Why did Great Yarmouth introduce selective licensing?

Selective licensing is used to improve housing conditions and tackle anti-social behaviour in the private rented sector.

Why did Great Yarmouth introduce additional licensing?

Additional HMO licensing addresses overcrowding, disrepair and management standards in smaller HMOs not covered by the national mandatory scheme.

What are the conditions to obtain an HMO licence in Great Yarmouth?

The council's HMO licence conditions set standards for fire safety, amenities, room sizes and management ( licence conditions ).

SELECTIVE LICENSING · LIVE

Great Yarmouth Property Licensing: Do You Need a Licence?

Great Yarmouth operates selective licensing alongside the national mandatory HMO scheme. Most privately rented homes need a licence, and enforcement is rising.

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Map of property licensing by ward in Great Yarmouth. Selective licensing in Central and Northgate, Nelson, Southtown and Cobholm and Yarmouth North applies now. The remaining wards have mandatory HMO licensing only, which applies nationally to larger shared homes.

Selective licensing now

Mandatory HMO licensing only (national scheme)

Part of ward only

Great Yarmouth Council Is Moving To Data-Led Enforcement

Councils are using data to identify unlicensed properties, and agents who manage them can be fined in their own right

Up to £40k fine per unlicensed property

Rent Repayment Orders up to 24 months

£7,800 average fine for letting agents

Most enforcement activity happens within the first 3–6 months of scheme launch.

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Property Licensing Guide for Great Yarmouth

Great Yarmouth currently operates selective licensing in 4 wards; mandatory HMO licensing applies everywhere. Last checked: 25 August 2026.

This free guide will provide you with the key details regarding what licensing requirements are necessary in this area and how to apply for a licence.

New to this? Read our overview: What is selective licensing?

Great Yarmouth Property Licensing Schemes

Got questions about licensing schemes in Great Yarmouth? We’re here to help. This free guide will provide you with the key details regarding what licensing requirements are necessary in Great Yarmouth and how to apply for a licence.

Is manual compliance causing a headache for your agency? At Kamma, we specialise in automating licensing compliance for agents across the UK. If you need any assistance in getting your property portfolio compliant, find out how we can help letting agents here.

Not sure whether a Great Yarmouth property needs a licence? Kamma's free checker covers selective, additional and HMO schemes.

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What are the licensing requirements for Great Yarmouth?

Mandatory licensing in Great Yarmouth

Mandatory HMO licensing applies across Great Yarmouth (and all of England) to larger HMOs. These are properties occupied by five or more people forming more than one household, including:

Shared houses and flats occupied by students and young professionals.
Properties converted into bedsits with some shared facilities.
Properties converted into a mix of self-contained and non-self-contained accommodation.

Do I need an additional property licence in Great Yarmouth?

Additional licensing requires smaller HMOs in a designated area to be licensed. That means a privately rented property with three or more people forming more than one household.

Great Yarmouth does not currently operate an additional HMO licensing scheme; larger HMOs are covered by the national mandatory HMO scheme.

Do I need a selective licence in Great Yarmouth?

Selective licensing requires almost all privately rented properties in a designated area to be licensed, regardless of the number of occupants.

Great Yarmouth operates selective licensing. The current designation is set out below.

Selective licensing: 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031, covering Central and Northgate, Nelson, Southtown and Cobholm and Yarmouth North.
Mandatory HMO licensing: in force since 2006 for HMOs of five or more people forming more than one household.

How do I apply for a licence?

You can apply for a licence via Great Yarmouth Council’s website here. Or let Kamma’s expert team process the application for you.

How much does a licence cost?

Great Yarmouth Borough Council sets the following licence fees:

Selective: £694 per self-contained unit for a five-year licence, split into two parts: £200 on application, which covers processing and is not refundable if the licence is not granted, and £494 payable before the licence is issued. The second part reduces monthly for applications made later in the scheme, but a late application is backdated to the date the property was first let or the start of the scheme, whichever is later.
Mandatory HMO: handled through the council’s application partner rather than published as a figure on the council’s own pages. Check Great Yarmouth Borough Council’s licensing pages for the current amount.

A small HMO that falls under mandatory licensing counts as one unit; fully self-contained flats in a converted building count individually. Fees are set by the council and can change. Check Great Yarmouth Borough Council’s licensing pages for the latest figures.

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Great Yarmouth's licensing schemes are set out below. Check any Great Yarmouth address against them.

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Great Yarmouth Property Licensing FAQs

What licensing schemes does Great Yarmouth operate?
Great Yarmouth operates selective licensing (1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031), alongside the national mandatory HMO scheme. See the scheme details above.
Do all properties in Great Yarmouth need a licence?
It depends on the scheme and your property. Where selective licensing applies, most privately rented homes need a licence; HMOs fall under mandatory or additional licensing depending on size and occupancy.
What if my property doesn't have a licence?
Operating a property that requires a licence without one can bring civil penalties of up to £40,000 per property. The landlord also risks a rent repayment order of up to 24 months’ rent and cannot serve a Section 21 notice. A letting agent who manages the property or collects the rent commits the offence too and can be fined separately.
Can letting agents apply on behalf of landlords?
Yes. Letting agents can apply for property licences on behalf of landlords in Great Yarmouth, and many manage the full process.
How do I apply for a Great Yarmouth property licence?
You can apply through Great Yarmouth Council’s website (licensing pages), or use a managed service such as Kamma.
Why did Great Yarmouth introduce selective licensing?
Selective licensing is used to improve housing conditions and tackle anti-social behaviour in the private rented sector.
Why did Great Yarmouth introduce additional licensing?
Additional HMO licensing addresses overcrowding, disrepair and management standards in smaller HMOs not covered by the national mandatory scheme.
What are the conditions to obtain an HMO licence in Great Yarmouth?
The council’s HMO licence conditions set standards for fire safety, amenities, room sizes and management (licence conditions).

About Great Yarmouth

Great Yarmouth operates property licensing to raise standards in its private rented sector. The schemes that apply are set out below.

Licensing Enforcement in Great Yarmouth

Great Yarmouth Council enforces property licensing across its schemes. Letting a property without the required licence risks prosecution and civil penalties of up to £40,000 per property. The landlord can also face a rent repayment order of up to 24 months’ rent. Where a letting agent manages the property or collects the rent, the agent commits the offence too and can be fined in its own right.