Yorkshire and the Humber

HMO licensing in North East Lincolnshire

North East Lincolnshire Council requires a mandatory licence for HMOs occupied by 5 or more people from 2 or more households. It also runs selective licensing in designated areas, covering privately rented homes that are not licensable HMOs. The published licence fee starts at £1,000.

Mandatory licence

5+ people, 2+ households

National scheme

Additional / selective

Selective

Council-designated schemes

Licence fee

From £1,000

Decision time

Not published

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Licensing schemes in North East Lincolnshire

In force

Selective licensing

North East Lincolnshire's Selective Licensing scheme covers part of the East Marsh ward, Grimsby (Durban Road to part of the A180 Cleethorpe Road, and Victor Street to Park Street). It came into force on 8 April 2026 and runs to 7 April 2031; all privately rented homes in the area, including 3-4 person HMOs, need a licence.

In force from: 8 April 2026
Scheme ends: 7 April 2031

Council source

Verified 24 September 2026

Licence fees

The published fee for a new HMO licence is £1,000, and £1,000 to renew. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.

HMO licence fee is paid in two stages. Stage 1: a non-refundable £150 application fee, payable when the application is submitted. Stage 2: for a basic new licence (up to 6 occupants) £850, plus £115 for each additional occupant (no maximum) — must be paid within 14 days of the 'Decision to Issue the Licence'. Total for a first application covering up to 6 occupants is therefore £1,000. Renewal uses the same structure: a basic renewal licence (up to 6 occupants) is £850 (Stage 2) plus £115 per additional occupant, on top of the £150 Stage 1 fee. A licence variation costs £160 (basic), plus £115 per additional occupant. North East Lincolnshire issues five-year HMO licences only.

Check the current fee on the council website (nelincs.gov.uk) before you apply.

Additional and selective licence fees

Fees for council-designated schemes are set separately from the mandatory HMO fee. Figures are the standard full-rate fee for a new licence, before any discounts.

Selective licence

£1,000

Selective licence for a privately rented property in the East Marsh designated area (Grimsby), standard (non-accredited) landlord, 5-year licence, paid in two parts (Part A £600 on application + Part B £400 invoiced when the draft licence is issued)

Accredited landlords (DASH members) pay £725 in total (Part A £600 + reduced Part B £125). A £200 late fee applies if a landlord has not applied within the first 6 months of the scheme (deadline 8 October 2026). A £275 charge applies if accreditation lapses.

Scheme: From 8 April 2026 to 7 April 2031

Checked 2 October 2026 against nelincs.gov.uk

Minimum room sizes

Double bedroom	10.22 m² minimum floor area for a room used as sleeping accommodation by 2 persons aged 10 or over. North East Lincolnshire's published HMO guidance does not set out its own bedroom-size table, so this is the national statutory minimum under The Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (Mandatory Conditions of Licences) (England) Regulations 2018, which applies by default to mandatorily licensed HMOs.
Single bedroom	6.51 m² minimum floor area for a room used as sleeping accommodation by 1 person aged 10 or over (4.64 m² for a child under 10). This is the national statutory minimum under The Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (Mandatory Conditions of Licences) (England) Regulations 2018.

Double bedroom

10.22 m² minimum floor area for a room used as sleeping accommodation by 2 persons aged 10 or over. North East Lincolnshire's published HMO guidance does not set out its own bedroom-size table, so this is the national statutory minimum under The Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (Mandatory Conditions of Licences) (England) Regulations 2018, which applies by default to mandatorily licensed HMOs.

Single bedroom

6.51 m² minimum floor area for a room used as sleeping accommodation by 1 person aged 10 or over (4.64 m² for a child under 10). This is the national statutory minimum under The Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (Mandatory Conditions of Licences) (England) Regulations 2018.

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

A Fire Risk Assessment is mandatory under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and must be kept up to date with monthly inspection logs.
Grade D fire detection systems require regular in-house testing plus an annual professional service.
Grade A fire detection systems require inspection every six months by a qualified person.
Emergency lighting, where fitted, requires annual professional servicing.
A Fire Detection and Alarm System Inspection and Servicing Report must be submitted with the licence application.

Kitchen, bathroom and amenity standards

A simple floor plan including room sizes must be submitted with the application.
A current EICR, gas safety certificate (where applicable), PAT certificate, and EPC are all required conditions of licensing.
A copy of the tenancy agreement (AST) must be supplied to the council.

Documents you will need

Floor plan — Simple floor plan including room sizes.
Gas safety certificate — Up-to-date Landlord's Gas Safety Certificate.
EICR — Current Electrical Installation Condition Report.
PAT certificate — Portable Appliance Test certificate.
Fire detection inspection report — Fire Detection and Alarm System Inspection and Servicing Report.
Emergency lighting certificate — Emergency lighting testing certificate, where fitted.
EPC — Valid Energy Performance Certificate.
Tenancy agreement — Copy of the tenancy agreement (AST) used for occupants.

Sources

Compiled from the council’s own published pages and documents; data reviewed September 2026. Rules and fees change, so always confirm with North East Lincolnshire Council before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.