HMO licensing in North Lincolnshire

The published fee for a new HMO licence is £1,063. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.

A new HMO licence has two fee stages, each covering up to 5 rooms. Stage 1 (processing the application, non-refundable) is £595, plus £30 for each extra room. Stage 2 (administering the licensing scheme) is £468, plus £62 for each extra room. The total for a first application is £1,063, plus £92 for each room above 5. Extra charges: £95 for an incomplete application needing more correspondence, £95 for paying the stage 2 fee more than 14 days late, and £74 per officer hour for paper applications. The council lists no separate renewal fee, so confirm it before renewing; renewal applications are due two months before your licence expires.

Fee source: northlincs.gov.uk (checked 8 October 2026). Fees change during the year, so check the council before you apply.

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.

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 detection must comply with BS5839 Part 6, graded (D1 or A) according to the number of storeys and whether cooking facilities are within individual bedsits — higher storeys and shared-cooking layouts require Grade A mains-powered, interlinked detection with a control panel and call points.
• Protected means of escape (walls, floors, ceilings, door sets) must provide 30 minutes' fire resistance, rising to 60 minutes in high-risk areas separating commercial and residential space.
• Locks on escape-route doors must be openable from the inside without a key, and escape routes must be kept free of obstructions and flammable materials.
• A fire blanket must be provided and fitted in each kitchen facility, sited away from the cooker/hob.
• A Fire Risk Assessment must be carried out by the landlord/managing agent as the 'responsible person' under fire safety legislation, identifying hazards and the physical/management measures needed.
• All fire detection equipment and emergency lighting must be routinely tested and serviced to keep it in full working order.

• Communal dining/living rooms (where provided) must be at least 8.5 m² for up to 3 persons, or 11 m² for 4–6 persons, plus 1 m² per additional person.
• Communal kitchens must have at least 3.7 m² for one person, plus 2 m² per additional person sharing, plus a further 1 m² per person if dining facilities are included in the kitchen.
• A unit with its own exclusive kitchen facilities requires a cooker (2 rings/hotplates minimum, 4 rings for more than one occupant), a sink with drainer (minimum 500mm x 600mm), at least 3 electrical sockets above the worktop in addition to those needed for major appliances, and 500mm x 1000mm of usable worktop.
• Habitable rooms need natural lighting equivalent to at least 1/10th of the floor area and ventilation equivalent to at least 1/20th of the floor area (or suitable mechanical ventilation).
• Room-size calculations only count floor area with a ceiling height above 1.5m and exclude any en-suite bathroom area.

• EICR — Satisfactory Electrical Installation Condition Report, dated within the last five years.
• Gas safety certificate — Current valid gas safety certificate, if the property has a gas supply.
• Fire Risk Assessment — Copy of the current FRA completed by a competent person.
• Fire alarm test certificate — Current fire alarm testing certificate and/or maintenance declaration, if there is a fire alarm control panel.
• Emergency lighting certificate — Current emergency lighting certificate, if the property has emergency lighting.
• PAT certificate — Most recent Portable Appliance Test certificate for the property.
• Floor plan — Floor plan accurately reflecting the current/proposed layout with measured dimensions.
• Photo ID — Photo ID of the applicant and manager (e.g. passport or UK driving licence).
• Proof of address — Proof of address for the applicant.

• northlincs.gov.uk
• northlincs.gov.uk
• northlincs.gov.uk
• northlincs.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 Lincolnshire Council before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.