East of England
We currently show scheme records, official links, and supporting research for this council.
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This page includes the scheme records we currently hold, but council policies and boundaries can change. Treat it as a researched starting point and verify the latest position on the official council pages before acting.
Based on publicly available information, we show the licensing status we currently hold for Great Yarmouth Borough Council, highlight mandatory HMO rules, and link you to official council sources for verification where we currently have them.
Confirm the current scheme boundary, licence fee, exemptions, application route, and any recent policy changes on the council website before making decisions.
Our current data is based on publicly available information. Always verify the latest licensing position, scheme boundaries, fees, and exemptions with Great Yarmouth Borough Council.
We research council licensing information from public sources and present it as general guidance. We do not replace the council's own licensing pages or legal advice.
Council updates
We will email you if Great Yarmouth Borough Council introduces, renews, or changes a licensing scheme. Free, occasional updates only. Always verify final requirements on the council website.
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This page may already answer a lot of the question. Use the paid products only if you want a quicker written summary, a more risk-focused view, or ongoing monitoring.
Property Licensing Check
Live now
A concise written review for one property, postcode, or council situation based on current public council-source information.
Best for: Best for landlords, agents, and buyers who want written clarity quickly on one case.
Delivery: Concise report by email, usually within 2 working days
Licensing Due Diligence Report
Coming soon
A more tailored, more decision-oriented, and more risk-focused review for higher-stakes property decisions.
Best for: Best for buyers, investors, agents, landlords refinancing, and conveyancers handling material decisions.
Delivery: Analyst-reviewed report with stronger risk framing
Alerts and monitoring
Coming soon
A lighter monitoring tier for selected councils or areas, aimed at landlords and smaller investors who want ongoing updates.
Best for: Best for landlords and smaller investors who want ongoing updates without building their own tracking process.
Delivery: Monthly monitoring and change alerts
These options are designed to save research time, improve clarity, and support decision-making. Final reliance should still be tied back to the relevant council and, where necessary, professional advice.
Enter a postcode to see whether it appears to fall within a licensing scheme area, then verify the result with the council.
Covers approximately 5,000 privately rented properties across four ward areas of Great Yarmouth, representing around 60% of the borough's private rented sector. The designated area was designed to target areas with above-average levels of poor housing conditions, deprivation, and high concentrations of PRS properties.
This is Great Yarmouth's second selective licensing designation. It replaces the expired 2019-2024 Nelson Ward scheme and significantly expands coverage from approximately 1,500 to approximately 5,000 properties. The scheme was approved by the Conservative-controlled Cabinet on 2 December 2025. The council appointed Home Safe Delivery Partners Ltd as their application processing and delivery partner. Application workshops for landlords were delivered by Home Safe prior to scheme launch. Applications require upload of key compliance documents (gas safety certificate, EPC, electrical certificate, etc.). Landlords who submit a valid Part A application by the start date will not face enforcement action while their application is processed. Scheme duration 5 years (1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031). Secretary of State approval was not required as the scheme covers fewer than 20% of dwellings in the borough overall (it covers approximately 60% of PRS properties but the PRS is a subset of total dwellings).
Our current data shows this scheme based on public information. Always verify the latest fees, dates, and boundary wording on the official council page.
Covered most of Nelson Ward, targeting the most challenged parts of the ward. Addressed poor housing conditions and management standards in the private rented sector in this deprived coastal ward.
Expired scheme. Ran for five years from January 2019 to January 2024. Licensed approximately 1,518 properties (some sources cite 1,550 or 1,553 — the variation reflects counting differences across the scheme's lifespan). The scheme resulted in 4,362 issues identified in the first inspection programme (73% of properties had at least one high-priority issue). The second inspection programme saw resolution times reduce from 69 days to 43 days and the proportion of properties requiring no action increase from 11% to 18%. The council concluded the scheme achieved its objective of improving housing standards, but that standards were not consistently maintained between inspections in many cases. This finding justified the new, larger 2026-2031 scheme. The scheme was delivered in partnership with Home Safe.
Our current data shows this scheme based on public information. Always verify the latest fees, dates, and boundary wording on the official council page.
Borough-wide mandatory licensing for all HMOs meeting the statutory threshold. Applies across the entire Great Yarmouth borough area.
Mandatory under Housing Act 2004 Part 2. Applies to properties with 5+ persons forming 2+ households sharing amenities. The 2018 amendment removed the previous 3-storey requirement. Applications have been processed via Home Safe since 1 November 2018. Variation applications must be submitted directly to the council (not via Home Safe). Pre-licensing inspection carried out by council usually within 10 days of valid application receipt.
Our current data shows this scheme based on public information. Always verify the latest fees, dates, and boundary wording on the official council page.
A borough-wide additional HMO licensing scheme was proposed covering HMOs with 3 or 4 persons from 2 or more households (below mandatory licensing threshold). Consulted on alongside the selective licensing scheme in summer 2025. No formal designation has been confirmed as of extraction date.
Great Yarmouth Borough Council consulted on a proposed borough-wide additional HMO licensing scheme (covering 3-4 person HMOs) alongside the selective licensing consultation (16 June to 1 September 2025). The proposed start date was discussed as January 2026. As of extraction date (26 March 2026), no formal designation has been confirmed in any official or reliable third-party source. This entry documents the proposed status. If designated, it would be a new scheme under Section 56 of the Housing Act 2004. Note: An earlier search result incorrectly attributed a September 2025 additional HMO scheme with £1,450 fee to Great Yarmouth — this was verified to relate to the London Borough of Enfield, not Great Yarmouth.
Our current data shows this scheme based on public information. Always verify the latest fees, dates, and boundary wording on the official council page.
These public research signals help show how recently this page was reviewed and what still needs checking before you rely on it.
Last reviewed
28 March 2026
Research confidence
High (71/100)
Sources checked
6
Core data (selective licensing approval date, start date, end date, fee structure, areas covered, fee split) confirmed from multiple sources including official council news pages, NRLA monthly updates (July, August, September 2025 and March 2026), Landlord Today, Eastern Landlords Association, LocalGovernmentLawyer, and PropertyWire. Mandatory HMO fee structure (£1,245 new / £1,239 renewal) confirmed directly from Home Safe (council's official delivery partner). Previous scheme dates (January 2019 to January 2024) confirmed from council case study and news articles. JR status (pre-action only) confirmed from multiple legal/trade sources. The only significant unresolved uncertainty is whether the additional HMO licensing scheme was formally designated (no official confirmation found) and the exact list of eight streets in North Ward. There is also uncertainty about whether specific early bird fee discounts exist for the 2026 selective scheme. The NRLA March 2026 update confirms the April 2026 start date is still proceeding.
Required under section 11 of The Licensing and Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation and Other Houses (Miscellaneous Provisions) (England) Regulations 2006. The name and home address of the Licence Holder and Agent, plus property information, are published on the council's website and made freely available. Having processed an application, the council enters details of the licence on a public register that it is obliged by law to keep. An entry exists on data.gov.uk for this register.
The selective licensing scheme starts 1 April 2026. A public register of selective licences will be required under s.232 Housing Act 2004. No public register URL has been published as of extraction date (26 March 2026), as the scheme had not yet launched.
Supporting sources
All councils in England must operate mandatory HMO licensing. This applies to properties with 5 or more occupants forming 2 or more separate households, regardless of location. If your property meets these criteria, you must apply for a mandatory HMO licence from Great Yarmouth Borough Council.
Borough-wide mandatory licensing for all HMOs meeting the statutory threshold. Applies across the entire Great Yarmouth borough area.
Mandatory under Housing Act 2004 Part 2. Applies to properties with 5+ persons forming 2+ households sharing amenities. The 2018 amendment removed the previous 3-storey requirement. Applications have been processed via Home Safe since 1 November 2018. Variation applications must be submitted directly to the council (not via Home Safe). Pre-licensing inspection carried out by council usually within 10 days of valid application receipt.
In addition to licensing, all private landlords in England must comply with these requirements:
Use these routes to move from the Great Yarmouth Borough Council summary into the most relevant next action for your property, role, or research task.
Landlord with a standard let→
Start with a postcode if you want a property-specific route before relying on the council summary alone.
Shared occupancy or possible HMO→
Use the HMO checker if occupier numbers, households, or room-sharing could change the answer.
Check if a property has an HMO licence→
Use this if you need to check whether a property holds an HMO licence, or find the council's public HMO register.
Investor, buyer, or conveyancer→
Use the due diligence guide if this council page is part of a purchase, refinance, or pre-letting review.
Letting agent or portfolio manager→
Preview the monitoring route if you need ongoing watchlists and recurring scheme-change visibility.
Understand selective licensing rules→
Read the guide if you want the broader legal background on how selective licensing works alongside this council page.
Need the area-based route→
Use the selective licensing page if the real question is whether a standard rented home sits inside a designated area.
Tenant checking landlord compliance→
Use the tenant guide if you rent a property and want to check whether your landlord holds the right licence.
Important disclaimer
This tool provides general information about landlord licensing schemes in England. Results are based on publicly available data and may not reflect recent changes. This is not legal advice. Always verify licensing requirements directly with your local council before making decisions.
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