When Does Leicester Selective Licensing Expire and What Happens Next?

Leicester's current selective licensing designation is scheduled to end on 9 October 2027. Individual licences can run for up to five years, and a licence may remain valid after the designation ends. With less than a year to go, landlords are asking whether the scheme will be renewed and what that means for properties already licensed.

How Long Does an Individual Licence Last?

A selective licence in Leicester is granted for up to five years, which is the maximum statutory term under the Housing Act 2004. However, the council can issue shorter licences — one or two years — where the applicant has a history of non-compliance, where planning status for HMO use is unresolved, or where structural works are outstanding.

The licence is tied to a named holder for a specific property. It cannot be transferred. If you sell the property, the licence terminates at legal completion and the new owner must apply for a fresh licence, pay the Stage 1 fee and complete a new Fit and Proper Person declaration before letting.

When Does the Scheme Expire?

The designation itself — which gives the council the legal power to require selective licences in mapped parts of five wards — runs from 10 October 2022 to 9 October 2027. After that date, the council cannot issue new selective licences under this designation.

The designation's end date does not by itself set the expiry date of an individual licence. Check the expiry date printed on your licence; it may fall after 9 October 2027.

Will the Council Renew the Scheme?

Leicester City Council has not yet announced whether it will seek to renew the selective licensing designation. A renewal requires the council to go through the full statutory process again: establishing designation grounds (anti-social behaviour, deprivation, poor conditions, high crime), conducting a minimum ten-week public consultation and passing a formal council decision.

Since December 2024, councils no longer need Secretary of State approval to introduce schemes covering more than 20% of their geographic area or private rented stock. This makes renewal procedurally simpler than the original 2022 designation, but the council still needs to demonstrate that the statutory criteria are met.

If the council renews or introduces a replacement designation, check how it affects your property and any current licence with the council. An existing licence may remain valid until its stated expiry date, even if that date falls after the current designation ends.

If the council does not renew, selective licensing in the mapped areas within the five wards ends on 9 October 2027. Properties that previously needed a selective licence would no longer need one under this designation — though mandatory HMO licensing (for five-plus occupant shared houses) continues indefinitely.

What Should Landlords Do Now?

If your property is in a mapped selective licensing area and you have not yet applied, the priority is getting licensed before the current designation ends. The PRS Database registration window opens on 15 February 2027, with a deadline of 14 May 2027. You can submit the database registration and provide outstanding property information, including licence details, within 28 days.

Applying now also means you benefit from the statutory defence while the council processes the application, and you avoid the rush of last-minute applications as the scheme approaches its final months.

The Landlord Licensing in Leicester guide covers the full timeline from application to licence grant, including what to prepare for 2027.

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