HMO licensing in Nottingham
Mandatory, Additional and Selective licensing schemes plus the current Article 4 direction status for converting a dwelling into a small HMO.
Verdict: C3 to C4 HMO conversion
Article 4 applies, planning permission required for HMO conversion
Coverage: Selected wards including Arboretum, Dunkirk and Lenton, and Wollaton East and Lenton Abbey
In force since: 8 March 2012
Effect: Removes PD right for C3 to C4 conversion in the named wards
Article 4 + Additional Licensing together create one of the strictest HMO regulatory environments in England.
Council Article 4 policy pageMandatory HMO licensing
Statutory- Threshold
- 5+ occupants forming 2+ households with shared facilities
- Fee range
- £1,020-£1,330
- Licence duration
- 5 years
Mandatory licensing is a statutory rule, every council in England and Wales must operate it for properties meeting the threshold.
Additional HMO licensing
In force- Scheme
- Additional HMO Licensing Scheme
- Coverage
- Selected wards including Lenton, Dunkirk, Wollaton and Radford
- Threshold
- 3+ occupants from 2+ households
- Fee range
- £840-£1,200
- Scheme expires
- 31 January 2028
Covers the city's student belt south of the Trent.
Selective licensing
In force- Scheme
- Selective Licensing Scheme
- Coverage
- Whole city excluding mandatory and additional HMO scheme areas
- Fee range
- £480-£640
- Scheme expires
- 31 August 2028
Selective licensing covers any private rented property in the designated area, not just HMOs.
Where to apply
Applications go to Nottingham directly, not through us. The council's HMO licensing page is the canonical reference.
Open Nottingham HMO licensing pageVerify before relying on this data. Licensing schemes are renewed every 3-5 years and Article 4 directions can be added or revoked between renewals. This entry was last reviewed on 15 May 2026. The council's own planning and licensing pages are the canonical source. Use this page as a starting point for your due diligence, not the final word.
Buying a property to convert to an HMO?
Our Investor-tier property report includes an Article 4 + licensing check for the specific address, plus yield, ROI, cashflow and HMO market data.