Do you need a landlord licence in Leicester?
Whether you need a licence to let a property in Leicester depends on the type of property and exactly where it is. Leicester (East Midlands), like every English council, must license larger HMOs, and it can also designate areas for additional or selective licensing. Here’s what each means, what happens if you get it wrong, and how to check Leicester’s current rules.
Licensing in Leicester as at 25 September 2026
Leicester runs selective licensing (mapped parts of Stoneygate, Westcotes, Fosse, Braunstone Park & Rowley Fields, and Saffron wards, from 10 October 2022 until 9 October 2027), on top of mandatory HMO licensing.
- Selective licensing
Area: Mapped parts of Stoneygate (East cluster); Westcotes, Fosse, and Braunstone Park & Rowley Fields (West cluster); and Saffron (South cluster)
Scheme dates: From 10 October 2022 until 9 October 2027
Fee: £1,290 (£1,032 on application + £258 when the licence is issued)
- Additional HMO licensing
- No additional HMO licensing scheme in force in Leicester.
- Mandatory HMO licensing
- Applies everywhere in Leicester, as across England, to HMOs let to five or more people forming two or more households.
Leicester's selective licence also covers small HMOs in the designated area. Outside it, only larger HMOs need a licence under the mandatory scheme. The council says it will review the scheme in October 2027.
Sources (checked 25 September 2026)
- Leicester City Council — Selective licensing
- Leicester City Council — Houses in multiple occupation
- Leicester City Council — Notice of designation for selective licensing (PDF)
Designations and fees change. Confirm your exact address and the live fee with Leicester before you apply.
The three types of licence
- Mandatory HMO licence. Required across England for larger HMOs — typically a property let to five or more people forming two or more households who share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet. This applies in Leicester regardless of any local scheme.
- Additional HMO licence. Leicester can extend HMO licensing to smaller HMOs in designated parts of its area.
- Selective licence. Leicester can require a licence for all privately rented homes — including ordinary single-family lets — within a designated area. Larger schemes need government approval, and they’re used in areas with specific housing or anti-social-behaviour concerns.
The penalties for renting unlicensed in Leicester
How to check Leicester's current schemes
Never miss a licensing deadline
LandlordReady tracks the licences and certificates each of your properties needs and warns you before they lapse — so a renewal or a new Leicester scheme doesn’t catch you out.
Start with LandlordReady →Frequently asked questions
Do I need a licence to rent out a property in Leicester?
As at 25 September 2026, Leicester runs selective licensing (mapped parts of Stoneygate, Westcotes, Fosse, Braunstone Park & Rowley Fields, and Saffron wards, from 10 October 2022 until 9 October 2027), on top of mandatory HMO licensing. If your property is in a selective licensing area, you need a licence for any privately rented home there — including an ordinary single let — unless it is exempt or licensed as an HMO. A larger HMO (five or more people, two or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in Leicester. Check your exact address on Leicester's licensing page before you let.
How much does a landlord licence cost in Leicester?
Leicester's published fees as at 25 September 2026: Selective licence: £1,290 (£1,032 on application + £258 when the licence is issued). Fees are set by the council and can change, so confirm the current figure before you apply.
What happens if I rent without a required licence in Leicester?
Renting an unlicensed property that needs a licence is a criminal offence. You can face an unlimited fine or a civil penalty of up to £40,000, and a rent repayment order of up to 24 months' rent (the limits for offences on or after 1 May 2026).
Check landlord licensing in other areas.