Charnwood Council Is Moving To Data-Led Enforcement
Property Licensing Guide for Charnwood
Charnwood currently operates selective licensing in 4 wards and additional licensing in 24 wards; mandatory HMO licensing applies everywhere. Last checked: 20 October 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?
Charnwood is in the East Midlands registration window for the PRS database, which opens on 15 February 2027: see when landlords in the East Midlands have to register on the PRS database.
Charnwood Property Licensing Schemes
Charnwood Borough Council keeps a searchable public register of licensed HMOs and selective licences, linked from its property licensing pages. Use it to check whether a property is already licensed. Additional HMO licensing covers houses with three or four unrelated occupiers and runs from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2028.
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 Charnwood property needs a licence? Kamma's free checker covers selective, additional and HMO schemes.
Check a Charnwood property →What are the licensing requirements for Charnwood?
Mandatory licensing in Charnwood
Mandatory HMO licensing applies across Charnwood (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 Charnwood?
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.
Charnwood operates additional HMO licensing. The current designation is set out below.
Do I need a selective licence in Charnwood?
Selective licensing requires almost all privately rented properties in a designated area to be licensed, regardless of the number of occupants.
Charnwood operates selective licensing. The current designation is set out below.
Additional licensing: 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2028, covering Anstey, Barrow upon Soar, Birstall East & Wanlip, Birstall West, Dishley, Hathern & Thorpe Acre, Forest Bradgate, Loughborough Ashby, Loughborough East, Loughborough Nanpantan, Loughborough Outwoods & Shelthorpe, Loughborough Southfields, Loughborough Storer, Loughborough Woodthorpe, Mountsorrel, Quorn & Mountsorrel Castle, Rothley Brook, Shepshed East, Shepshed West, Sileby & Seagrave, South Charnwood, Syston, The Wolds, Thurmaston and Wreake Valley.
Selective licensing: 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2028, covering Loughborough East, Loughborough Southfields, Loughborough Storer and The Wolds.
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 Charnwood Council’s website here. The council charges in two stages: £395 with the application and £305 once the licence is granted. Accredited DASH members pay £220 at stage two. Or let Kamma’s expert team process the application for you.
How much does a licence cost?
Licence fees
| Licence | Fee |
|---|---|
| Selective licence | £700 per property |
| Additional HMO licence | £700 (New application; see council page for per-room elements) |
| Mandatory HMO licence | £700 (New application; see council page for per-room elements) |
Fees as published by the council, verified 20 July 2026; subject to change. See the council’s fee page for full schedules, payment stages and discounts.
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Charnwood Property Licensing FAQs
What licensing schemes does Charnwood operate?
Charnwood operates selective and additional licensing (1 April 2023 to 31 March 2028), alongside the national mandatory HMO scheme. See the scheme details above.
Do all properties in Charnwood need a licence?
No. In Charnwood, a house shared by three or four unrelated people needs an additional HMO licence, and one shared by five or more needs a mandatory HMO licence. Selective licensing covers a single household, one person or two unrelated people, but only inside the designated Loughborough area. A privately rented home outside that area and not an HMO needs no Charnwood licence.What if my property doesn't have a licence?
Letting a Charnwood property that needs a licence without one can bring a civil penalty of up to £40,000 per property for offences on or after 1 May 2026. The landlord also risks a rent repayment order of up to 24 months’ rent. 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 Charnwood property licences on behalf of landlords, and many manage the full process for additional, selective and mandatory HMO licences.
How do I apply for a Charnwood property licence?
Apply for a Charnwood property licence through the council’s HMO licensing pages, which offer online applications. The council charges £395 with the application and £305 on grant, £700 in total. You can also use a managed service such as Kamma.
Why did Charnwood introduce selective licensing?
Charnwood Borough Council introduced selective licensing for the Hastings and Lemyngton wards of Loughborough to improve property conditions and management standards of privately rented homes. The council made the designation on 10 March 2022 and it took effect on 1 April 2023.
Why did Charnwood introduce additional licensing?
Charnwood Borough Council introduced additional HMO licensing to improve property conditions and management standards in HMOs with three or four unrelated occupiers. The council made the designation on 10 March 2022. It took effect on 1 April 2023 and ends on 31 March 2028.
What are the conditions to obtain an HMO licence in Charnwood?
The council’s HMO licence conditions set standards for fire safety, amenities, room sizes and management (licence conditions).
About Charnwood
Charnwood is a borough in Leicestershire, England, largely within the historic county of Leicestershire, except for a small part near Wymeswold, which lies in Nottinghamshire. The borough is named after Charnwood Forest, an ancient forest in the Midlands. The area includes hills with some of Britain’s oldest rocks, including Bardon Hill, which rises to 912 feet. Loughborough, an industrial town with a modern university, serves as the administrative centre. The borough covers 108 square miles. Charnwood Borough Council made its additional HMO and selective licensing designations on 10 March 2022, and both took effect on 1 April 2023.
Licensing Enforcement in Charnwood
Charnwood Borough Council enforces property licensing across its schemes. After an agreement reached at the First Tier Tribunal in 2025, it amended its selective licensing conditions and is sending new draft licences to existing licence holders (council page updated 23 April 2026). 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.
