Letting Agents Can Be Fined for Unlicensed North Lincolnshire Properties
Property Licensing Guide for North Lincolnshire
North Lincolnshire currently operates selective licensing in 2 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?
North Lincolnshire 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.
North Lincolnshire Property Licensing Schemes
To check whether a North Lincolnshire property needs a licence, look up its address against the Crosby & Park and Town selective licensing area. You can also run it through Kamma’s free checker below. The council keeps a public register of licensed HMOs.
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 North Lincolnshire property needs a licence? Kamma's free checker covers selective, additional and HMO schemes.
Check a North Lincolnshire property →What are the licensing requirements for North Lincolnshire?
Mandatory licensing in North Lincolnshire
Mandatory HMO licensing applies across North Lincolnshire (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 North Lincolnshire?
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.
North Lincolnshire 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 North Lincolnshire?
Selective licensing requires almost all privately rented properties in a designated area to be licensed, regardless of the number of occupants.
North Lincolnshire operates selective licensing. The current designation is set out below.
Selective licensing: 20 March 2025 to 19 March 2030, covering Crosby & Park and Town.
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 North Lincolnshire 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 | £955 per property |
| Mandatory HMO licence | £1,063 per property |
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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North Lincolnshire Property Licensing FAQs
What licensing schemes does North Lincolnshire operate?
North Lincolnshire operates selective licensing (20 March 2025 to 19 March 2030), alongside the national mandatory HMO scheme. See the scheme details above.
Do all properties in North Lincolnshire need a licence?
No. Not every North Lincolnshire property needs a licence. In the selective licensing area of Crosby & Park and Town wards, most privately rented homes need one from 20 March 2025 to 19 March 2030. Elsewhere in North Lincolnshire, only HMOs with five or more people from more than one household need a mandatory licence.
What if my property doesn't have a licence?
Operating a licensable North Lincolnshire property without a licence can bring civil penalties 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 a North Lincolnshire property licence on behalf of landlords. The council’s selective licence costs £955 for the five-year period, and a mandatory HMO licence costs £1,063 for up to five rooms.
How do I apply for a North Lincolnshire property licence?
Apply through North Lincolnshire Council’s website. Use the selective licensing application page for homes in Crosby & Park and Town wards. Use the mandatory HMO licensing page for an HMO. Selective licence applications opened on 6 October 2025.
Why did North Lincolnshire introduce selective licensing?
North Lincolnshire Council designated selective licensing for Crosby & Park and Town wards on 3 October 2024. The council’s consultation data sets out the evidence behind the designation.
Does North Lincolnshire have additional HMO licensing?
No. North Lincolnshire does not currently operate additional HMO licensing. HMOs with five or more people from more than one household need a mandatory licence under the national scheme, in force since 2006.
What are the conditions to obtain an HMO licence in North Lincolnshire?
North Lincolnshire Council’s HMO licence conditions set standards for fire safety, amenities, room sizes and management for mandatory HMO licences.
About North Lincolnshire
North Lincolnshire Council designated selective licensing on 3 October 2024 for private rented homes in the Crosby & Park and Town wards of Scunthorpe. The scheme took effect on 20 March 2025. A legal challenge delayed it, the High Court dismissed that challenge, and the council backdated the five-year licence period to 20 March 2025. Applications opened on 6 October 2025, and the council set a registration deadline of 6 January 2026. Press reports put the area at about 1,230 private rented properties.
Licensing Enforcement in North Lincolnshire
North Lincolnshire Council set a registration deadline of 6 January 2026 for the Scunthorpe selective licensing area. 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.
