Selective licensing in North Lincolnshire
Yes. North Lincolnshire operates a selective licensing scheme. Letting a covered property without a licence risks a civil penalty of up to £40,000 and a rent repayment order of up to two years' rent.
Common questions
Do I need a selective licence in North Lincolnshire?
Yes. North Lincolnshire operates a selective licensing scheme. Letting a covered property without a licence risks a civil penalty of up to £40,000 and a rent repayment order of up to two years' rent.
Which areas of North Lincolnshire does the scheme cover?
Designation Area 1: Crosby and Park, and Town wards, Scunthorpe. Formally designated 3 October 2024, came into effect 20 March 2025 after a Judicial Review was dismissed 29 May 2025; applications opened 6 October 2025. Confirm a specific address against the council's own designation map before applying.
When does North Lincolnshire's scheme end?
The designation runs until 19 March 2030, unless the council revokes it earlier under section 84 of the Housing Act 2004.
What does the licence cost?
£955. Councils commonly discount for accredited landlords and early applications; confirm the current figure with North Lincolnshire before budgeting.
Paid in two parts — one on application, the balance before the licence is issued.
| Part A | £615 |
| Part B | £340 |
| Total | £955 |
North Lincolnshire — council-linked sources, read 19 Aug 2026
What the designation says
North Lincolnshire operates a selective licensing scheme covering Crosby and Park Town. It came into force on 20 March 2025 and runs until 19 March 2030. Selective licensing applies to privately rented homes generally rather than only to shared houses, so an ordinary house or flat let to a single household within the designated area needs a licence. The designation covers named neighbourhoods rather than the whole authority, so an address should be checked against it rather than assumed from a Scunthorpe postcode. Mandatory HMO licensing applies separately wherever a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households.
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 £40,000 per offence and a rent repayment order of up to two years' rent. Both maxima apply to conduct on or after 1 May 2026; before that date they were £30,000 and twelve months. Section 21 was abolished on 1 May 2026 and possession now runs through the amended section 8 grounds. Mandatory HMO licensing applies separately and everywhere, wherever a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households.
Information tool, not legal advice. Confirm the position with North Lincolnshire before letting.