East Midlands

HMO licensing in West Lindsey

West Lindsey District 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 West Lindsey (checked September 2026). The council does not publish a single licence fee, so check its fees page.

Mandatory licence

5+ people, 2+ households

National scheme

Additional / selective

None in force

Mandatory licensing only

Licence fee

Not published

Decision time

Not published

Check your property Get alerts for West Lindsey

Licensing schemes in West Lindsey

West Lindsey 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.

Licence fees

West Lindsey District Council does not publish a single figure we could confirm. Fees are set by the council and reviewed each year, so check its fees page.

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

Minimum room sizes

One-person bedroom, no separate living/dining space, no cooking facilities in room	10 m² minimum floor area (West Lindsey local standard, above the 6.51 m² national minimum).
Two-person bedroom, no separate living/dining space, no cooking facilities in room	15 m² minimum floor area.
One-person bedroom with adequate lounge/dining space elsewhere	8 m² minimum floor area.
Two-person bedroom with adequate lounge/dining space elsewhere	12 m² minimum floor area.
One-person bedsit (bedroom/sitting room/kitchen combined)	14 m² minimum floor area.
Two-person bedsit (bedroom/sitting room/kitchen combined)	18 m² minimum floor area.
National statutory minimum (single occupant, self-contained flat bedrooms)	6.51 m² minimum (10.22 m² for two occupants, 4.64 m² for a child under 10), per the Licensing of HMOs (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

Bedsit-type HMOs of 3-4 storeys need a 30-minute protected escape route (30-minute fire-resisting construction, FD30S doors to risk rooms) and 30-minute fire separation between units, with a Grade A LD2 mixed detection system (smoke detectors on escape routes, plus heat/smoke detectors within or serving each bedsit depending on where cooking facilities sit).
Shared houses up to 3 storeys need sound traditional construction with suitable escape doors/windows, 30-minute fire separation for any cellar, and a Grade D LD3 mixed detection system (interlinked mains-wired smoke alarms on escape routes, plus a heat alarm in the kitchen and smoke alarms in the lounge and any cellar).
Fire blankets must be provided in every kitchen (and within cooking facilities in bedsits); automatic detection/alarm systems must be tested and serviced in line with BS 5839-6, and emergency escape lighting (where required) maintained to BS 5266-8:2004.

Kitchen, bathroom and amenity standards

Bath/shower provision: 1 per 4 or fewer occupiers sharing (bathroom and toilet may combine); at 5 occupiers, 1 bathroom plus 1 separate toilet with wash basin; 2 bathrooms and 2 toilets (one separate) for 6-10; 3 bathrooms and 3 toilets (one separate) for 11-15.
Kitchens must be in the main building, no more than one floor from the bedrooms, available 24 hours a day, and laid out so the cooker and sink can both be used safely at once; minimum 7 m² for up to 5 users, plus 3 m² per extra person beyond 5.
Bathrooms must have mechanical ventilation to the outside at a minimum 60 litres/second (West Lindsey's local standard, well above the national norm) in addition to any window, plus tiled splashbacks and slip-resistant flooring.
Toilet compartments need a window equal to at least 1/20th of the floor area, or mechanical ventilation of at least 6 litres/second, plus their own wash hand basin.

Documents you will need

DBS check — Disclosure and Barring Service check for the proposed licence holder/manager.
Gas safety certificate — Annual gas safety check by a Gas Safe registered engineer, records kept for 2 years.
Electrical safety certificate (EICR) — Periodic inspection by a competent electrical engineer, recommended every 5 years.
Fire safety documentation — Evidence of the fire detection/alarm system and escape route provisions matching the property's HMO type (bedsit vs shared house).
Floor plan with bedroom measurements — Plan showing room use, dimensions and fire safety features.

Sources

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