HMO licensing in Leicester: fees, selective licensing and how to apply
Written by Sam Allcock · Last updated 23 August 2026 · Facts checked against Leicester City Council's own published pages on the date above
Leicester's approach is unusual - instead of running a separate additional licensing scheme for small HMOs, it captures them inside its selective licensing scheme, which costs £1,290 total and covers parts of Braunstone Park & Rowley Fields, Fosse, Saffron, Spinney Hills, Stoneygate and Westcotes from 10 October 2022 to 9 October 2027 (Leicester City Council, checked 23 August 2026).
A mandatory HMO licence (5+ occupants, 2+ households) applies everywhere in Leicester, not just the designated areas - reported at around £900, though we couldn't independently re-verify that exact figure line by line this pass.
Short on time?Let us prepare your Leicester HMO or selective licence application - fixed fee, and we always show you the free official route first.
Get it done for you →This page sets out Leicester's own published fees and schemes - for the wider system, see our HMO & landlord licensing hub, and for the national rules on who needs a licence, see do I need an HMO licence?
This is general information sourced from Leicester City Council's own website, not legal advice - always confirm current fees and area boundaries with the council directly before you apply.
What's different about HMO licensing in Leicester?
Most councils that widen who needs a licence do it with a separate "additional licensing" scheme for small HMOs. Leicester instead folds small shared houses (up to 4 people, 2+ households) into its selective licensing designation, so if your property sits in one of the six designated areas, it needs a licence regardless of whether it's technically an HMO or a single-household let (Leicester City Council, checked 23 August 2026).
Mandatory HMO licensing (5+ occupants) still applies right across the city, in the designated areas and beyond.
What does an HMO or selective licence cost in Leicester?
The selective licence, which also covers small HMOs in the six designated areas, costs £1,290 total, split into two payments (Leicester City Council, checked 23 August 2026). All previous discounts ended on 9 April 2024.
Confirm your exact fee and which scheme applies to your property on Leicester City Council's own property licensing pages →
✓ Checked against Leicester City Council, 23 August 2026
Does Leicester run additional or selective licensing?
| Scheme | Status in Leicester |
|---|---|
| Mandatory HMO licensing | City-wide, applies to every large HMO (5+ occupants, 2+ households) |
| Additional licensing | No separate scheme - small HMOs are covered by selective licensing instead, in the designated areas only |
| Selective licensing | Parts of Braunstone Park & Rowley Fields, Fosse, Saffron, Spinney Hills, Stoneygate and Westcotes (10 October 2022 to 9 October 2027) |
Because small HMOs are only caught inside the selective areas, a 3-4 person shared house outside those six areas may not currently need a licence in Leicester - confirm your exact street on the council's own map.
How do you apply for an HMO or selective licence in Leicester?
You apply directly through Leicester City Council's own website (Leicester City Council, checked 23 August 2026).
- Check your address against the council's designated-area map to see which scheme applies.
- Gather your documents - property details, floor plans, fire-risk information and licence holder details.
- Apply online and pay the first-stage fee.
- Use the council's drop-in help sessions (Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10am-2.45pm) if you need support completing the form.
- Pay the second-stage fee once your licence is issued.
How long does a Leicester HMO or selective licence take?
Leicester City Council's pages reviewed for this guide didn't set out a fixed processing timescale (checked 23 August 2026) - confirm current turnaround with the council's licensing team, which can be reached at selectivelicensing@leicester.gov.uk.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a selective licence cost in Leicester?
£1,290 total, paid as £1,032 on application and £258 when the licence is issued. This also covers small HMOs (up to 4 sharers) inside the designated areas.
Does Leicester have a separate additional licensing scheme?
No - small HMOs are captured inside the selective licensing scheme rather than a standalone additional scheme, so they only need a licence if the property is in one of the six designated areas.
Which areas of Leicester need a selective licence?
Parts of Braunstone Park & Rowley Fields, Fosse, Saffron, Spinney Hills, Stoneygate and Westcotes, from 10 October 2022 to 9 October 2027 - check your exact street on the council's map.
Where do I apply for a Leicester HMO or selective licence?
Directly through Leicester City Council's own website - check your address against the designated-area map first, then apply and pay online.
apply for licence is an independent guide and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Leicester City Council, GOV.UK or any government body. This page is general information, not legal advice - for anything specific to your property, contact Leicester City Council's property licensing team directly.