Selective Licensing

The Selective Licensing scheme does not cover all areas of the city. It’s estimated to cover over 30,000 privately rented homes in a designated area. It's really important that you check if your property is in a designated area.

Is my rental property within the Selective Licensing area?

Some properties, such as those managed by Housing Associations and Nottingham City Homes properties are exempt from licensing.

Fees and Discounts

Other fees may apply, a full breakdown is here.

Please note - The council will only give a refund if:

• a duplicate application has been made
• an application has been made for an exempted property by mistake

If you are in the process of selling your property and it falls within the designated area you can apply for a temporary exemption notice (TEN).

You can only make an application if you are the owner or person in control of the property. 

A temporary exemption notice lasts for three months. You can renew for an extra three months in special circumstances. If the property still needs a licence after this period, you must apply for a property licence straight away.

If you wish to apply for a temporary exemption, please download, complete and return the Temporary Exemption Request Form to selective.licensing@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

For more information on temporary exemptions please view the document below.

Temporary Exemption from Licensing 

Please see details of statutory exemptions here

It is against the law for any landlord to rent out a property in designated Selective Licencing areas without a licence. We will work with other partner agencies across Nottingham to find unlicensed properties and take legal action.

Paper Application

A paper application carries the extra cost of £100 due to the more administrative cost and processing time required. One can be requested by emailing selective.licensing@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

This £100 is split into £35 for the form to be sent out. The remaining £65 is paid with the first part of the application fee when the form is returned completed to us.

If you wish to print your own copy and return it to us, Part A Paper Application additional fee of £35 will be waived off.

From 1^st December 2019, applicants can now apply for block licence.

Conditions that must be met to enable the grant of a Block Licence

The Council accepts that under Part 3 Housing Act 2004 it is possible for it to grant a Block Licence which covers more than one separate dwelling where the following conditions are met:           

• each of the dwellings are separate dwellings (usually self-contained flats), within the same building; and
• each of the dwellings are occupied under non-"exempt tenancies"; and
• the entire building which contains the separate dwellings must be under common control and management

For more information, refer to Appendix 1 – Policy and Appendix 2 – Block Licence Additional Conditions and Appendix 3 - Revised Fee Structure

• Appendix 1 – Block Licence Policy
• Appendix 2 – Block Licence Additional Conditions
• Appendix 3 - Revised Fee Structure

You may also need to provide the following if relevant

• Emergency Escape Lighting Test Certificate (if present)
• Fire Alarm Test Certificate
• Most recent portable appliance test (PAT) certificate
• Building regulation completion certificate and planning consents (if applicable)
• Evidence of relevant training (if undertaken)
• Written Fire Safety Risk Assessment (if applicable)

Find out more about the documents you require before you apply

To apply for block licence complete application and relevant appendix below:

• Block Licence Application Form 
• Block Licence – Relevant Persons Appendix

Landlord Forum 6^th November 2018

• Agenda 
• Legal Updates EMPO and NLA 
• Joint Partnership Working N Galloway 
• How to Lease or Sell Your Property to Nottingham City Homes (NCH)
• Selective Licensing Update

Landlord Forum 11th July 2019

• Presentation on legislative updates
• Landlord Modern Day Slavery statement 
• Licensing inspection presentation 

Landlord Forum 29th January 2020

• Agenda 
• Council ambition for the private rented sector
• Housing Licensing Update
• Legal Updates EMPO
• Fire Safety in High-Rise flats JAIT
• Landlord and Managing Agents Liasion Groups

• Selective Licencing Handbook Revised July 2018
• Individual Property Licence – Online Application
• Individual Property Licence Conditions
• Housing Engagement and Compliance Policy & Guidance
• ASB Guidance for Landlords
• Civil Penalties Enforcement Guidance
• Selective Licence FAQs
• Public Notice for Designation of an Area for Selective Licensing
• Nottingham Integrated Housing Stock Modelling Report
• Public Register of Licence
• Redacted public register
• How to let by GOV.UK

Accreditation can currently be obtained by landlords via the DASH scheme. Unipol also offers a scheme. Both schemes provide accreditation for up to three years.

The Building Research Establishment Private Sector Housing stock survey for the City of Nottingham is now available on Nottingham insight and can be accessed here.

You have a right to request any recorded information held by Nottingham City Council that is not personal information about yourself. Further information on how to make an FOI request can be found here.

Email:  selective.licensing@nottinghamcity.gov.uk