Discretionary Licensing Schemes

How to apply

You can apply for a licence by either completing an online form, or printing it out and filling it in by hand. The form includes details of fees as well as terms and conditions.

Application forms must reach us by 15 July 2013, or the property will be counted as unlicensed and liable for the higher fees above and you could be prosecuted for operating an unlicensed property.

Applying online

To apply online please complete the form at Licensing of private residential accommodation, following the instructions at the beginning of the form. This is the correct form for all forms of private accommodation licensing, including Discretionary Licensing.

The first page of the form currently refers only to 'House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Licensing', but this will be changed shortly. The £100 reward will only be given where the application is for a Mandatory HMO licence or an Additional Licence, but not for a Selective Licence as the reward is included in the fee.

Please see our help sheet if you have a problem submitting the form (pdf, 11 KB) (opens new window).

Is my property licensable?

To find out if your property is licensable, first answer the two questions below.

1. Is the property run by a Registered Provider of Social Housing (Housing Association)? If so, then no licence is required.
2. Does the property require a mandatory House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licence? For information, please check our HMO licensing web pages. If so, then the property isn't licensable under the discretionary licensing scheme.

If none of the above apply, then the property may need a licence.

Which scheme?

If your property is subject to discretionary licensing, it'll either be in the 'Selective Licensing' or the 'Additional Licensing' scheme.

You can see if the property is in the area subject to discretionary licensing by checking the lists and maps below.

• List of addresses in discretionary licensing area (vnd.ms-excel, 0.6 MB) (opens new window)
• Map of areas where both 'Selective Licensing' and 'Additional Licensing' apply (pdf, 5.2 MB) (opens new window).
• Map of area where 'Additional Licensing' only applies (pdf, 3.2 MB) (opens new window).

Selective and additional licensing area

Selective licensing applies to all privately rented properties occupied under a single tenancy, or bedsits with individual tenancies. The majority of properties in this area where both 'Selective Licensing' and 'Additional Licensing' apply will come under selective licensing. However if your property does not meet this criteria for selective licensing, but is an HMO, you need to apply for an Additional Licence.

Additional licensing only area

In the area where Additional licensing only applies, all privately rented flats or houses with three or more unrelated people, living in two or more households and sharing some basic facilities (i.e. most HMOs) will need an Additional Licence, unless they fall into one of the exception categories listed at the top of the page. Selective licensing does not apply in this area.

Licensing conditions

Conditions for the Additional Licensing scheme, the Selective Licensing scheme and both schemes. (pdf, 22 KB) (opens new window)

How much will it cost?

There is a cost for a licence. The licence lasts for five years, and the cost covers the full five year period.