Property licensing in the Yorkshire and the Humber
We track 2 councils in the Yorkshire and the Humber. Each one is checked against the council’s own website, most recently on 9 October 2026. Always confirm the exact street on the council’s map before you let a property.
At a glance
- Selective licensing (every privately rented home in the area needs a licence): Leeds City Council.
- Additional HMO licensing (smaller shared houses, usually 3 or 4 people from 2 or more households): none of the councils we track in the Yorkshire and the Humber.
- Mandatory HMO licensing only: Sheffield City Council.
Mandatory HMO licensing applies in every council area in England: a licence is needed for a house shared by 5 or more people forming 2 or more households.
| Council | Schemes | Last checked |
|---|---|---|
| Leeds City Council | Selective licensing | 9 October 2026 |
| Sheffield City Council | Mandatory HMO only | 9 October 2026 |
Council by council
Leeds City Council
- Selective licensing: Parts of the Armley, Beeston and Holbeck, Burmantofts and Richmond Hill, Hunslet and Riverside, Gipton and Harehills, and Farnley and Wortley wards. From 9 February 2026 to 8 February 2031. Fee: £1,100 per property online (£400 on application, £700 on grant) or £1,225 on paper; £150 discount per licence for Leeds Rental Standard members.
Full details for Leeds City Council, including how to apply and penalties.
Sheffield City Council
No selective or additional licensing scheme recorded. Mandatory HMO licensing still applies. No additional HMO licensing scheme
Full details for Sheffield City Council, including how to apply and penalties.
How to check whether your property needs a licence
- Find the council for the property’s address. Our licensing checker suggests the likely council from the postcode.
- Check which schemes cover the street. Schemes often cover only some wards, so use the council’s own map or postcode search.
- Apply before you let the property, or as soon as a new scheme starts. Councils can impose a civil penalty or prosecute for an unlicensed property, and tenants can apply for a rent repayment order.
New to this? Read HMO licensing explained, and keep your gas safety, EICR and EPC dates in order with our compliance record. This page is general information, not legal advice.