Licensing in Nottingham City Council is set street by street. Check whether a specific address needs a licence with the free property licence checker, or see if it falls in a selective licensing area.
Nottingham has one of the highest proportions of privately rented housing of any city in England, with 45% of households in the private rented sector (2021 Census). Nottingham City Council operates a city-wide additional HMO licensing scheme that has been in force since January 2024. The council has also been at the forefront of enforcement, winning a nationally significant Court of Appeal case in February 2026 that strengthened HMO licensing laws across England.
Nottingham City Council's city-wide additional licensing scheme applies to all HMOs occupied by three or more unrelated people forming two or more households who share facilities. This means virtually all shared houses in Nottingham require a licence, regardless of the number of occupants.
Nottingham does not currently operate a selective licensing scheme for non-HMO properties.
Nottingham City Council won a nationally significant housing case at the Court of Appeal in February 2026, strengthening enforcement of HMO licensing laws across England. The ruling clarified councils' powers to enforce licensing requirements and was described by the council as a major victory for housing standards. Read the Local Government Lawyer coverage.
Nottingham City Council has been highly active in enforcement:
Read the My Nottingham News coverage of the Court of Appeal win.
This page was researched and written by the Tuxa editorial team. Our data is sourced directly from local authority websites, MHCLG scheme designation orders, and the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA). We update our content when councils announce new schemes or enforcement actions. If you spot an error or out-of-date information, please contact us.
Last reviewed: March 2026
Nottingham City Council charges the following fees for property licences:
Nottingham does not currently operate a selective licensing scheme. The council's licensing focus is on HMOs through its city-wide additional licensing scheme, which has been in force since January 2024.
Nottingham City Council's additional HMO licensing scheme is city-wide, covering all wards of the city. This means that any HMO in Nottingham with 3 or more occupants from 2 or more households requires an additional licence, regardless of its location within the city.
Wards with the highest concentrations of licensed HMOs include Arboretum, Lenton and Wollaton East, Hyson Green and Arboretum, and Radford. These areas are close to the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University and have some of the highest proportions of shared housing in the East Midlands.
Key postcodes in Nottingham's HMO licensing areas: NG1, NG7, NG8, NG9.
Applications for HMO licences in Nottingham are made through Nottingham City Council's online portal:
Does my Nottingham rental property need a licence? If your property is an HMO with 3 or more occupants from 2 or more households, it requires an additional HMO licence from Nottingham City Council. Larger HMOs with 5 or more occupants also require a mandatory HMO licence.
How do I apply for a Nottingham HMO licence? Applications are made online through Nottingham City Council's licensing portal. You will need a valid gas safety certificate, EICR, and EPC. The council may inspect the property before granting the licence.
What are the penalties for renting an unlicensed HMO in Nottingham? Nottingham City Council can issue civil penalties of up to £30,000 per unlicensed property. Tenants can apply for a Rent Repayment Order. Nottingham has been one of the most active enforcement authorities in England, winning a landmark Court of Appeal case in 2024 that upheld its city-wide additional licensing scheme.
How long does a Nottingham HMO licence last? Nottingham City Council typically grants HMO licences for five years.
Last reviewed: March 2026. Source: Nottingham City Council housing licensing pages; Housing Act 2004.