Selective licensing in Gedling

What the designation says

Gedling Borough Council operates a selective licensing scheme covering the residential area of Netherfield ward, designated under section 80 of the Housing Act 2004. The designation, cited as Phase 1A, was made on 5 September 2024, came into force on 5 January 2025 and ceases on 4 January 2030 unless revoked earlier. Every house let or occupied under a tenancy or licence in the ward needs a selective licence, with the usual statutory exceptions: HMOs already licensable under Part 2, homes let by a registered social landlord, properties under management orders, and properties holding a temporary exemption notice. This replaces an earlier Netherfield designation that ran from 1 October 2018 to 30 September 2023, so the ward has been licensed for most of the last eight years. The Phase 1A citation suggests further phases may follow, so landlords elsewhere in the borough should watch for consultations. Check the council's map before letting, as the designation is drawn on ward boundaries.

What this means for a landlord

A licence must be in place before the property is let, not applied for afterwards. Operating unlicensed in a designated area is a criminal offence: a civil penalty of up to £30,000 per offence, a rent repayment order of up to twelve months' rent, and a section 21 notice that cannot be served while the property is unlicensed. Mandatory HMO licensing applies separately and everywhere, wherever a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households.

Gedling's own licensing page →