Yorkshire and the Humber
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 Rotherham Metropolitan 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 Rotherham Metropolitan 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 Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council introduces, renews, or changes a licensing scheme. Free, occasional updates only. Always verify final requirements on the council website.
Free, occasional licensing updates only. You can unsubscribe at any time.
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.
Borough-wide mandatory licensing for all HMOs meeting the national mandatory licensing criteria
Mandatory HMO licensing has been in place nationally since April 2006. The definition was extended from October 2018 to cover HMOs regardless of the number of storeys (previously only applied to HMOs of 3 or more storeys). The council charges fees to cover administrative costs. Licence variations (e.g. changing number of occupants, transferring ownership) are processed under Section 69 of the Housing Act 2004. Where a managing agent changes but the licence holder remains the same, a Change of Management Declaration may be submitted instead of a new application. The council can issue Temporary Exemption Notices. Operating an unlicensed HMO is a criminal offence. Property types covered: Properties occupied by 5 or more people forming 2 or more households who share facilities (kitchen, bathroom, toilet), regardless of the number of storeys. Includes: shared houses occupied by 5+ residents from multiple households; converted buildings with 5+ residents sharing amenities; purpose-built flat blocks of up to 2 flats where at least one is occupied by 5+ people from multiple households.. Exemptions or exclusions: Properties managed by local housing authorities Registered social housing providers Properties subject to management orders Properties with fewer than 5 occupants Properties with only one household.
Our current data shows this scheme based on public information. Always verify the latest fees, dates, and boundary wording on the official council page.
Six designated areas within Rotherham Borough where all privately rented residential properties (not already licensed as HMOs) are required to be licensed
Designation made on 14 November 2025; came into effect 15 February 2026. Does not require Secretary of State confirmation as made under General Approval 2024. Maltby was included in the 2020-2025 scheme but excluded from this scheme following significant improvements observed. Brinsworth is a new area added compared to the 2020-2025 scheme. Applications incomplete after 4 weeks from notification of deficiency will be rejected and require full re-payment. Rebates of the maintenance charge are available pro-rata if a licence is surrendered within one calendar month of a qualifying property change. Property types covered: All privately rented residential properties within the designated areas that are not already licensed as HMOs under mandatory or additional HMO licensing. Exemptions or exclusions: Properties already licensed as HMOs under Part 2 of the Housing Act 2004 Properties occupied only by students on full-time further or higher education courses where the managing person is the educational establishment Tenancies granted for more than 21 years without a landlord break clause Properties where the tenant is a member of the landlord's family (as defined in Housing Act 2004) and the property is the occupier's main residence Properties subject to a Temporary Exemption Notice where steps are being taken to ensure the property will not require a licence (e.g. agreed sale to an owner-occupier).
Our current data shows this scheme based on public information. Always verify the latest fees, dates, and boundary wording on the official council page.
Six designated areas within Rotherham Borough for the 2020-2025 period
Scheme ended 30 April 2025. No new applications accepted from 1 May 2025. The scheme issued 2,063 licences with 24 awaiting payment and 55 properties exempt. 346 inspections completed. 148 Category 1 hazards and 622 Category 2 hazards identified. 832 notices issued (including 366 statutory nuisance notices and 259 community protection notices). Total licence fee income: £1,161,093; total scheme cost: £1,294,898. Maltby showed highest rate of rebate approvals. The scheme was the second period of selective licensing in Rotherham, following an earlier 2015-2020 scheme. Over 2 schemes (2015-2020 and 2020-2025) combined, over 2,300 properties were inspected, approximately 8,000 hazards addressed, and 155 Emergency Prohibition Notices issued. Property types covered: All privately rented residential properties within the designated areas not already licensed as HMOs.
Our current data shows this scheme based on public information. Always verify the latest fees, dates, and boundary wording on the official council page.
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
27 March 2026
Research confidence
High (82/100)
Sources checked
17
Key data points confirmed from multiple official Rotherham Council web pages. The 2026-2031 selective licensing scheme start date, designated areas, full fee structure (Part 1/Part 2 breakdown), discounts, and application URL were all confirmed from the official council application page. Mandatory HMO fees confirmed from official council fees page. Historical 2020-2025 scheme details confirmed from multiple official and third-party sources. The NRLA and Kamma sources were used to cross-check but all primary data sourced from rotherham.gov.uk.
A directory of selective licensing areas is available on the council website. Individual licensed properties may be searchable via the directory.
This register covers Licensing Act 2003 premises licences (e.g. alcohol, entertainment venues) rather than private rented property licensing. Not the HMO or selective licensing register.
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 Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council.
Borough-wide mandatory licensing for all HMOs meeting the national mandatory licensing criteria
Mandatory HMO licensing has been in place nationally since April 2006. The definition was extended from October 2018 to cover HMOs regardless of the number of storeys (previously only applied to HMOs of 3 or more storeys). The council charges fees to cover administrative costs. Licence variations (e.g. changing number of occupants, transferring ownership) are processed under Section 69 of the Housing Act 2004. Where a managing agent changes but the licence holder remains the same, a Change of Management Declaration may be submitted instead of a new application. The council can issue Temporary Exemption Notices. Operating an unlicensed HMO is a criminal offence. Property types covered: Properties occupied by 5 or more people forming 2 or more households who share facilities (kitchen, bathroom, toilet), regardless of the number of storeys. Includes: shared houses occupied by 5+ residents from multiple households; converted buildings with 5+ residents sharing amenities; purpose-built flat blocks of up to 2 flats where at least one is occupied by 5+ people from multiple households.. Exemptions or exclusions: Properties managed by local housing authorities Registered social housing providers Properties subject to management orders Properties with fewer than 5 occupants Properties with only one household.
In addition to licensing, all private landlords in England must comply with these requirements:
Use these routes to move from the Rotherham Metropolitan 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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