HMO licensing in South Holland

South Holland 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 £1,050, and £1,050 to renew. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.

Fee is charged in two parts: a Part A fee of £300.00 for initial application and processing (covers administration, initial processing and inspection - no further work begins until paid), plus a Part B fee of £150.00 per unit of accommodation (bedroom), payable once the Council confirms the application can proceed, to cover ongoing administration and enforcement. The same £300 + £150-per-unit structure applies to renewals. For a typical 5-bedroom HMO this totals £1,050 (£300 + 5 x £150). These are the Council's adopted 2026/27 fees, set out in a single Enforcement Policy shared across the South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership (South Holland, Boston and East Lindsey), effective from 1 April 2026.

Check the current fee on the council website (sholland.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.

• Every kitchen (shared or exclusive) must have at minimum 1 fire blanket sited within 1800mm of each hob; fire extinguishers are optional but if provided must be inspected annually to British Standards with monthly visual checks recommended.
• Standards are set under the SELCP HMO Licensing Policy 2026-2029, applied jointly across South Holland, Boston and East Lindsey.

• Shared kitchens are sized and equipped by occupancy band: 3-5 occupants need a 7 m² kitchen with 1 single-bowl sink, 1 conventional cooker (4-ring hob/oven/grill), 2 double + 1 single socket, 1500mm+250mm/extra-occupant worktop, dry goods storage per occupant and a fridge-freezer; requirements scale up through 6-7, 8-10 and 11-15 occupant bands (larger kitchens, extra sinks/cookers/fridges/sockets).
• Shared bathrooms: 1 bathroom/shower room + 1 toilet for 3-5 sharers, 2+2 for 6-10 sharers, 3+3 (one toilet separate) for 11-15 sharers; all must have constant hot/cold water, fixed heating capable of 21°C, and mechanical ventilation of at least 15 litres/second in addition to any window.
• Electrical sockets (in addition to those for white goods/cooking appliances): 2 twin sockets in a single bedroom/bedsit (6.51-10.21 m²), 4 twin sockets in a double bedroom/bedsit (10.22 m²+).
• Kitchens must be mechanically ventilated to a minimum of 30 litres/second (fan within 300mm of hob centre) or 60 litres/second (fan sited elsewhere), and sited no more than two floors from the bedrooms it serves.

• Gas safety certificate (CP12) — Current certificate for all gas appliances and installations.
• EICR — Electrical Installation Condition Report, per the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, at intervals of no more than 5 years.
• EPC — Valid Energy Performance Certificate, rated Band E or above for new tenancies.
• Smoke and CO alarm confirmation — Working smoke alarms on every storey, and CO alarms where solid fuel appliances are present, per the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015.
• Floorplan — Plan showing room use, dimensions and amenity locations, using the SELCP HMO Licence Application Form.

• sholland.gov.uk
• sholland.gov.uk
• sholland.gov.uk

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