Do you need a landlord licence in Nottingham?

Whether you need a licence to let a property in Nottingham depends on the type of property and exactly where it is. Nottingham (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 Nottingham’s current rules.

Licensing in Nottingham as at 25 September 2026

Nottingham runs selective licensing (some or all of 15 wards, from 1 December 2023 until 30 November 2028) and additional HMO licensing (city-wide, from 1 January 2024 until 31 December 2028), on top of mandatory HMO licensing.

Selective licensing

Area: Some or all of 15 wards: Aspley, Basford, Berridge, Bulwell, Bulwell Forest, Castle, Dales, Hyson Green & Arboretum, Leen Valley, Lenton & Wollaton East, Mapperley, Meadows, Radford, Sherwood and St Ann's — use the council's postcode checker

Scheme dates: From 1 December 2023 until 30 November 2028

Fee: Part A £290 + Part B £469 accredited (£759 total), £660 non-accredited (£950), or £1,028 “less compliant” (£1,318)

Additional HMO licensing

Area: City-wide: HMOs with 3 or more people forming 2 or more households

Scheme dates: From 1 January 2024 until 31 December 2028

Fee: From 1 April 2026, up to 9 bedrooms: £1,607 standard (Part A £697 + Part B £910); £1,210 if accredited under the Nottingham Rental Standard (£697 + £513); £2,180 “less compliant” (£697 + £1,483)

Mandatory HMO licensing
Applies everywhere in Nottingham, as across England, to HMOs let to five or more people forming two or more households.

Sources (checked 25 September 2026)

Designations and fees change. Confirm your exact address and the live fee with Nottingham 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 Nottingham regardless of any local scheme.
  • Additional HMO licence. Nottingham can extend HMO licensing to smaller HMOs in designated parts of its area.
  • Selective licence. Nottingham 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 Nottingham

Letting a property that needs a licence without one is a criminal offence. You risk an unlimited fine or a civil penalty of up to £40,000, a rent repayment order of up to 24 months’ rent, and a possible banning order. (Those are the limits for offences on or after 1 May 2026, when the Renters’ Rights Act raised them from £30,000 and 12 months.)

How to check Nottingham's current schemes

Designations change, so always confirm the live position. Search Nottingham’s website for “property licensing” or “landlord licensing”, check whether your postcode falls inside a designated area, and note the licence type, the boundaries and the scheme dates. If in doubt, contact Nottingham’s private-sector housing team before you let. The summary above was checked against Nottingham’s own licensing page on 25 September 2026.

Never miss a licensing deadline

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Frequently asked questions

Do I need a licence to rent out a property in Nottingham?

As at 25 September 2026, Nottingham runs selective licensing (some or all of 15 wards, from 1 December 2023 until 30 November 2028) and additional HMO licensing (city-wide, from 1 January 2024 until 31 December 2028), 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. If you let an HMO that doesn't need a mandatory licence and falls within additional licensing (city-wide), it needs an additional HMO licence. A larger HMO (five or more people, two or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in Nottingham. Check your exact address on Nottingham's licensing page before you let.

How much does a landlord licence cost in Nottingham?

Nottingham's published fees as at 25 September 2026: Selective licence: Part A £290 + Part B £469 accredited (£759 total), £660 non-accredited (£950), or £1,028 “less compliant” (£1,318). Additional HMO licence: From 1 April 2026, up to 9 bedrooms: £1,607 standard (Part A £697 + Part B £910); £1,210 if accredited under the Nottingham Rental Standard (£697 + £513); £2,180 “less compliant” (£697 + £1,483). 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 Nottingham?

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.