HMO licensing in North Kesteven

North Kesteven District 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.

The published fee for a new HMO licence is £830, and £344 to renew. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.

Fees are charged in two parts for a new licence: a non-refundable 'Application Fee' invoiced on submission (£430.40 for 2026/27), plus a further fee charged on determination that is tiered by the number of habitable bedrooms (£400.00 for 1-5 bedrooms, rising to £410.40 for 6 bedrooms, £420.90 for 7, £431.40 for 8, £441.80 for 9, £452.30 for 10, £504.70 for 15, and £557.00 for 20 bedrooms) - so a typical 5-bedroom HMO totals £830.40. Renewal fees are flat regardless of bedroom count: £344.30 if renewed before expiry with unchanged details (a 20% discount is applied), or the full £430.40 if renewed after expiry or with changed details. A further 20% discount applies to landlords/properties accredited under the DASH Services Accreditation Scheme. The Council may reduce or waive the fee for registered charities on written request. Figures are the Council's approved 2026/27 fees (from the 2025/26 base of £409.87 application / £380.91-£530.49 tiered).

Check the current fee on the council website (n-kesteven.gov.uk) before you apply.

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.

• No single prescribed fire-precaution standard applies to every HMO; each property is individually risk-assessed by the Council with reference to the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), LACORS 'Housing - Fire Safety' guidance (August 2008) and BS 5839-6:2019.
• Smoke alarms must be installed and kept in proper working order, with type/positioning determined by the individual risk assessment; a declaration on their condition and positioning must be supplied to the Council on demand.
• A carbon monoxide alarm must be installed in any room used as living accommodation that contains a solid fuel burning combustion appliance.
• The licence holder must declare on demand that all electrical appliances and furniture supplied are kept in a safe condition, with furniture meeting the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1998 where applicable.

• Each unit of living accommodation must have adequate space heating.
• An adequate number of bathrooms, toilets and wash hand basins must be provided for the number of persons sharing them, all with hot and cold water, suitably heated, ventilated and located.
• Shared kitchens must be suitably located and equipped to enable sharers to store, prepare and cook food, including sinks with draining boards and hot/cold water, cooking facilities, electrical sockets, worktops, food/utensil cupboards, a fridge with freezer compartment, refuse disposal, extractor fan, fire blanket and fire door.
• Washing facilities for a unit of living accommodation must be an enclosed, ventilated room with a toilet and bath or fixed shower with constant hot and cold water, located within or reasonably close to the living accommodation.

• Gas safety certificate (CP12) — Current annual certificate from a Gas Safe Registered engineer for all gas appliances and installations, stating they are safe to use.
• EICR — Periodic Electrical Installation Condition Report dated within the last 5 years.
• PAT report — Portable Appliance Test report dated within the last 1 year for all electrical appliances supplied by the licence holder/manager.
• Basic disclosure certificate — DBS basic disclosure certificate (or equivalent) for both the proposed licence holder and the proposed manager.
• Floorplan — A sketch floorplan of every floor showing room layout, use and size of each room, plus location of amenities and fire precaution equipment.
• Fire/emergency lighting test reports — BS 5839 fire detection system test report and BS 5266 emergency lighting test report, where applicable.

• n-kesteven.gov.uk
• n-kesteven.gov.uk
• democracy.n-kesteven.gov.uk
• n-kesteven.gov.uk
• n-kesteven.gov.uk

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