Landlord licensing in Derby City Council

Council-specific HMO detail we currently show

Citywide mandatory licensing under Housing Act 2004. Applies to all HMOs with five or more occupiers forming two or more households sharing facilities, regardless of the number of storeys. Extended on 1 October 2018 to cover all multi-storey configurations (previously limited to three or more storeys).

Fee notes

Two-part payment structure: Part 1 paid with application, Part 2 due within 21 days of receiving draft licence. Cheque payments no longer accepted. Payment via debit or credit card. Civica ePay payment portal used. No accreditation discounts mentioned. No early bird discounts mentioned.

Typical licence term

Up to 5 years. Shorter periods possible based on management concerns or compliance history. Proportionate Part 2 fee applies for shorter licences.

Mandatory under Housing Act 2004. No fixed end date as this is a statutory national requirement. Processing target is 90 days; council noted backlog at time of extraction. Required documents: property plan, Gas Safety Certificate, EICR, photo ID and proof of address, Fire Safety Risk Assessment (FSRA). Optional: Fire Alarm Certificate, Emergency Lighting Certificate, PAT Certificate. Applications can be submitted online (PDF form via gov.uk portal) or by post. Penalties for non-compliance can include criminal prosecution with an unlimited fine. For offences committed on or after 1 May 2026, GOV.UK guidance refers to civil penalties of up to £40,000 for relevant offences, with different treatment for breaches and for offences committed before that date. Earlier cases may still be assessed under previous rules. Tenants or local authorities may be able to apply for a rent repayment order. GOV.UK guidance now refers to up to two years' rent for relevant offences, but eligibility, timing and the final amount depend on the facts and tribunal decision. Room size standards apply (under 10: min 4.64m², single over 10: min 6.51m², two people over 10: min 10.22m²). Article 4 Direction effective 3 May 2025 requires planning permission for converting homes into small HMOs in designated wards - this is a planning control separate from licensing. Property types covered: HMOs occupied by five or more people forming two or more separate households who share facilities (kitchen, bathroom, toilet), regardless of number of storeys. Includes Section 257 HMOs (purpose-built flat blocks with less than two-thirds owner occupation not meeting 1991 Building Regulations standards). Exemptions or exclusions: Properties managed by local authorities. Registered Housing Providers (Housing Associations). Certain properties listed under Schedule 14 of the Housing Act 2004.