HMO Licence Nottingham: Fees, Application, and Local Schemes

Nottingham City Council runs some of the most established licensing schemes in England. Between mandatory HMO licensing, additional HMO licensing in designated wards, and selective licensing, the majority of privately rented properties in Nottingham need a licence of some kind.

Licensing Schemes in Nottingham

Mandatory HMO licence — applies citywide to properties occupied by five or more people forming two or more households who share basic amenities, or where one or more basic amenities are lacking. This is the national scheme under the Housing Act 2004.

Additional HMO licence — Nottingham designates additional licensing in specific wards, capturing smaller HMOs (three or four people from two or more households). The mandatory scheme supersedes the additional scheme for properties that meet the five-person threshold.

Selective licence — Nottingham's second selective licensing designation has been active since 1 December 2023, covering designated wards. Single-let properties (one household) in those wards need a selective licence. From 1 April 2026, the selective licence fee rises to £950 for non-accredited landlords.

Nottingham HMO Fees

Nottingham splits its fees into Part A (processing) and Part B (grant), following the Hemming ruling.

The Part A fee is paid on submission and is non-refundable, regardless of the outcome. Part B is invoiced after the council decides to grant the licence.

DASH and Unipol Accreditation Discounts

Nottingham offers significant fee reductions to landlords accredited through DASH (Decent and Safe Homes) or Unipol. For mandatory HMO licences, accreditation drops the total from £1,607 to £1,210 — a saving of £397 over the five-year licence.

To qualify for the discount, you must hold active accreditation at the time of application and maintain it throughout the licence term. If your accreditation lapses during the five years, the council can demand repayment of the discount.

Accreditation does not exempt you from the licensing requirement. It reduces the fee and may influence inspection scheduling, but you still need the licence.

The Application Process

Nottingham processes licensing applications through its online portal. The council accepts paper applications, but these attract an additional £113 processing surcharge — the online route is almost always the better option.

You need to upload the standard suite of documents:

• Gas Safety Certificate (within 12 months)
• EICR (satisfactory, within 5 years)
• EPC (rated E or above)
• Fire Risk Assessment (reviewed within 12 months)
• Floor plans with room dimensions in square metres
• Proof of ownership
• Fit and proper person declaration

Nottingham also asks for details of any managing agent, the tenancy agreement in use, and information about all current occupants (names and household relationships — the council uses this to verify the household count against the licensing threshold).

What Nottingham Checks on Inspection

The council inspects properties both during the application process and at intervals during the licence period. Common inspection focus areas include:

• Bedroom sizes against statutory minimums (6.51 m² single, 10.22 m² double, with the 1.5 m ceiling height deduction applied to attic conversions)
• Kitchen and bathroom amenity ratios — Nottingham applies its own local amenity standards alongside the national requirements
• Fire detection in communal areas and escape route clearance
• Condition of communal hallways, stairways, and shared facilities
• Compliance with the management regulations (contact notice displayed, waste disposal arrangements)

Nottingham is known for proactive enforcement. The council's licensing team conducts targeted inspections in areas with high concentrations of shared properties, particularly around the university campuses.

Application Processing Time

Nottingham's processing times typically range from 6 to 12 weeks for a complete application. Once your application is "duly made" — all documents accepted, Part A fee paid — you are protected from prosecution for operating without a licence while the council processes it. But "duly made" means genuinely complete; a payment receipt without uploaded certificates does not count.

Getting Started

Check whether your property falls within a designated ward for the additional or selective scheme by using the council's postcode lookup tool. If it meets the five-person, two-household test, it needs a mandatory licence regardless of location.

Our HMO Licensing Guide for England covers the Nottingham fee structure alongside the national application process, with a document checklist and fee planning tool for the two-part payment.

See more England guides →