Doncaster agents can be fined for unlicensed lets
Property Licensing Guide for Doncaster
Doncaster currently operates selective licensing; 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?
Doncaster is in the Yorkshire and the Humber registration window for the PRS database, which opens on 15 April 2027: see PRS database registration in Yorkshire and the Humber.
Doncaster Property Licensing Schemes
Doncaster Council must keep a public register of licensed houses under section 232 of the Housing Act 2004, so you can ask it whether a property holds 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 Doncaster property needs a licence? Kamma's free checker covers selective, additional and HMO schemes.
Check a Doncaster property →What are the licensing requirements for Doncaster?
Mandatory licensing in Doncaster
Mandatory HMO licensing applies across Doncaster (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 Doncaster?
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.
Doncaster 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 Doncaster?
Selective licensing requires almost all privately rented properties in a designated area to be licensed, regardless of the number of occupants.
Doncaster operates selective licensing. The current designation is set out below.
Selective licensing: 1 March 2022 to 28 February 2027, covering Hexthorpe & Balby 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 Doncaster Council’s website here. Or let Kamma’s expert team process the application for you.
How much does a licence cost?
Licence fees
| Licence | Fee |
|---|---|
| Selective licence | £600 per property |
| Mandatory HMO licence | £1,008 (New application (up to 5 bedrooms)) |
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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Doncaster Property Licensing FAQs
What licensing schemes does Doncaster operate?
Doncaster operates selective licensing (1 March 2022 to 28 February 2027), alongside the national mandatory HMO scheme. See the scheme details above.
Do all properties in Doncaster need a licence?
No. Selective licensing in Doncaster applies only inside the Hexthorpe designated area, in force since 1 March 2022. Elsewhere in Doncaster, only HMOs of five or more people forming more than one household need a mandatory licence.
What if my property doesn't have a licence?
An unlicensed property in Doncaster 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 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 Doncaster, and many manage the full process.
How do I apply for a Doncaster property licence?
Doncaster Council takes licence applications online. For the Hexthorpe selective scheme, apply through the council’s website (licensing pages), or use a managed service such as Kamma.
Why did Doncaster introduce selective licensing?
Doncaster Council designated Hexthorpe for selective licensing on 15 November 2021, in force from 1 March 2022 for up to five years. The council’s Cabinet report named anti-social behaviour linked to private rented homes as the reason. It found the private rented sector made up 37% of properties in Hexthorpe but 64% of reported anti-social behaviour linked to domestic properties.
Why did Doncaster introduce additional licensing?
Doncaster has no additional HMO licensing scheme in force. Its earlier additional scheme covered five wards and ran from 1 October 2018 to 30 September 2023. Smaller HMOs outside Hexthorpe are not licensed under a Doncaster scheme; inside Hexthorpe they may need a selective licence.
What are the conditions to obtain an HMO licence in Doncaster?
Doncaster Council’s HMO standards set requirements for fire safety, amenities, room sizes and management (HMO standards). Converting a property into an HMO may also need planning permission, depending on location and the number of occupants.
About Doncaster
Doncaster is a market town in South Yorkshire. Its only selective licensing area is Hexthorpe, in the Hexthorpe and Balby North ward. The council designated it on 15 November 2021 and the scheme took effect on 1 March 2022. The council’s September 2021 Cabinet report said the private rented sector made up 37% of properties in Hexthorpe but 64% of reported anti-social behaviour linked to domestic properties. It put the number of affected private landlords at about 300. An earlier Hexthorpe scheme ended on 30 June 2020.
Licensing Enforcement in Doncaster
Managing a house in the Hexthorpe area without the required licence is an offence under the Housing Act 2004. The council’s designation notice names prosecution or a civil penalty as the outcomes and quoted a £30,000 maximum in 2021. For offences on or after 1 May 2026 the maximum civil penalty is £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.
