East Midlands
HMO licensing in Lincoln
City of Lincoln Council requires a mandatory licence for HMOs occupied by 5 or more people from 2 or more households. No additional or selective licensing scheme is currently in force in Lincoln (checked September 2026). The published licence fee starts at £1,470 (£1,270 to renew).
Mandatory licence
5+ people, 2+ households
National scheme
Additional / selective
None in force
Mandatory licensing only
Licence fee
From £1,470
Renewal £1,270
Decision time
Not published
Licensing schemes in Lincoln
City of Lincoln Council operates the national mandatory scheme. We found no additional or selective licensing scheme in force or proposed as of September 2026. Councils can introduce one after a public consultation, so it is worth setting an alert.
Licence fees
The published fee for a new HMO licence is £1,470, and £1,270 to renew. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.
Fee for a property of up to 5 bedrooms: 60% of the total fee is payable on application, with the remaining 40% payable as a licence fee when the draft licence is granted. Larger HMOs pay a surcharge on the basic fee (6-10 bedrooms: +10%, 11-15: +20%, 16-20: +30%, then +10% per further 5 bedrooms). Trusted Landlord Accreditation Scheme members receive a £100 discount. Renewal applications made 30+ days before expiry attract a lower total fee.
Check the current fee on the council website (lincoln.gov.uk) before you apply.
Minimum room sizes
| Double bedroom (2 persons, 10+ years) | 10.22 m² minimum floor area, per the national HMO space standard the council applies. |
|---|---|
| Single bedroom (1 person, 10+ years) | 6.51 m² minimum floor area. |
| Child's bedroom (under 10 years) | 4.64 m² minimum floor area. |
| General | Rooms with a ceiling height below 1.5m are excluded from the floor area calculation. |
National minimums for licensed HMOs are 6.51 m² for one adult and 10.22 m² for two adults; councils can apply higher local standards.
Fire safety requirements
- Fire precautions must comply with LACORS Housing Fire Safety Guidance, as referenced by the council's mandatory licensing scheme documents.
- A fire risk assessment identifying general fire precautions and means of escape must be in place and kept current.
Kitchen, bathroom and amenity standards
- Kitchen, bathroom and WC provision must be adequate and proportionate to the number of occupants sharing them, per the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006.
Documents you will need
- Gas safety certificate (CP12) — Required with the application, and annually thereafter for every gas appliance on the property.
- Electrical safety certificate (EICR) — Required as part of the documents evidencing satisfactory management; dated within the last five years, per the national mandatory HMO licence conditions.
- Floor plans — Showing every room and its dimensions, submitted with the application.
- List of furnishings — A list of the furnishings provided and their condition.
- Management evidence — Documents evidencing satisfactory management, including relevant test certificates.
Sources
Compiled from the council’s own published pages and documents; data reviewed September 2026. Rules and fees change, so always confirm with City of Lincoln Council before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.