Leicester Council Is Moving To Data-Led Enforcement
Property Licensing Guide for Leicester
Leicester currently operates selective licensing in 6 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?
Leicester is in the East Midlands registration window for the PRS database, which opens on 15 February 2027: see PRS database registration in the East Midlands.
Leicester Property Licensing Schemes
To check whether a Leicester HMO is licensed, search the council’s public register on Leicester Open Data, or use Kamma’s free checker on this page.
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 Leicester property needs a licence? Kamma's free checker covers selective, additional and HMO schemes.
Check a Leicester property →What are the licensing requirements for Leicester?
Mandatory licensing in Leicester
Mandatory HMO licensing applies across Leicester (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 Leicester?
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.
Leicester 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 Leicester?
Selective licensing requires almost all privately rented properties in a designated area to be licensed, regardless of the number of occupants.
Leicester operates selective licensing. The current designation is set out below.
Selective licensing: 10 October 2022 to 9 October 2027, covering Braunstone Park & Rowley Fields, Fosse, Saffron, Spinney Hills, Stoneygate and Westcotes.
Selective licensing: 29 December 2022 to 9 October 2027, covering Fosse, Stoneygate and Westcotes.
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 Leicester 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 |
|---|---|
| Mandatory HMO licence | £900 per property |
Fees as read from the council’s own published schedule on 20 July 2026, not independently re-checked since; subject to change. See the council’s fee page for full schedules, payment stages and discounts.
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Leicester Property Licensing FAQs
What licensing schemes does Leicester operate?
Leicester City Council operates selective licensing under two designations, both ending on 9 October 2027. The first started on 10 October 2022. The second started on 29 December 2022 and covers streets omitted in error from the first. Mandatory HMO licensing has applied across Leicester since 2006.
The council charges £1,290 for a selective licence: £1,032 with the application and £258 when the licence is issued. The mandatory HMO licence costs £900.
Do all properties in Leicester need a licence?
No. Not every privately rented property in Leicester needs a licence. The requirement depends on the property and where it is.
Selective licensing applies to privately rented homes inside the designated areas of Leicester. Mandatory HMO licensing applies citywide to HMOs with five or more occupants forming more than one household. Leicester does not currently operate additional HMO licensing.
What if my property doesn't have a licence?
A property in Leicester that needs a licence and does not have one exposes the landlord to civil penalties of up to £40,000 per property. 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 property licences on behalf of landlords in Leicester, and many manage the full process.
How do I apply for a Leicester property licence?
For a selective licence, apply through Leicester City Council’s selective licensing page. The council requires a fit and proper person declaration dated within the last three months before you apply.
For a mandatory HMO licence, apply through the council’s online account portal at myaccount.service.leicester.gov.uk. Letting agents can also use a managed service such as Kamma.
Why did Leicester introduce selective licensing?
Leicester City Council introduced selective licensing in October 2022 to help improve private rented accommodation in areas of the city affected by housing-related problems. The designation covers three clusters: east (Stoneygate), west (Westcotes, Fosse, Braunstone Park and Rowley Fields) and south (Saffron).
Does Leicester operate additional HMO licensing?
No. Leicester City Council does not operate an additional HMO licensing scheme. Mandatory HMO licensing covers HMOs of five or more occupants forming more than one household. Smaller HMOs fall under selective licensing only where they sit inside a selective area.
What are the conditions to obtain an HMO licence in Leicester?
Leicester City Council sets HMO licence conditions that include working smoke alarms, clear escape routes, gas and electrical safety checks, and adequate communal areas. See the council’s HMO licensing page.
About Leicester
Selective licensing in Leicester covers parts of wards, not whole wards, in three clusters of the city: east, west and south. Leicester City Council made the designation on 7 July 2022 and it came into force on 10 October 2022. It ceases on 9 October 2027 unless revoked earlier, and the council says it will review the scheme in October 2027.
Licensing Enforcement in Leicester
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.
Leicester City Council publishes a selective licensing enforcement policy that sets out how it responds to non-compliance.
