# Licensing in South Kesteven

> South Kesteven has no selective or additional licensing scheme in force.

- Checked 26 Oct 2026 (researched_at 2026-10-26, verified_at 2026-10-26)
- Region: East Midlands
- ONS code: E07000141
- Web page: https://lettance.com/councils/south-kesteven
- API: https://lettance.com/api/v1/councils/south-kesteven

## Licensing schemes

### Mandatory HMO licence: Mandatory HMO licensing (national scheme, South Kesteven fees)

- Status: In force (`in_force`)
- Area: Whole of South Kesteven District (national scheme).
- Fee: Published standard fee: £1,133.50. Council spreadsheet 'HMO Licence Fees - 01 April 2026 - 31 March 2027': new licence for 5 bedrooms £1,133.50 (Part A £570.50, Part B £563), rising per bedroom (6 bedrooms £1,241.50; 10 bedrooms £1,673.50; 25 bedrooms £3,293.50). Renewal for 5 bedrooms £977.50 (Part A £414.50, Part B £563).
- Licence length: 5 years
- Who needs one: HMOs with five or more occupiers living in two or more households who share basic amenities, regardless of the number of storeys.
- Apply: https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-a-licence/house-in-multiple-occupation-licence/south-kesteven/apply-1
- Licence conditions: https://www.southkesteven.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2026-05/skdc%20prescribed%20standards%20June%202021.pdf
- Confidence: High
- How we checked this: The licence is 'valid for up to 5 years'. The council aims to issue licences within 12 weeks of a valid application; tacit consent does not apply. HMO Licensing Policy 2024 and prescribed amenity standards are published.
- Sources: https://www.southkesteven.gov.uk/housing/private-renting-and-homeowners/houses-multiple-occupation-hmo-mandatory-licensing, https://www.southkesteven.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2026-06/HMO%20Licence%20Fees%20-%2026-27.xlsx, https://www.southkesteven.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2024-04/SKDC%20HMO%20Policy%202024.pdf

## Article 4 for house shares

Not yet confirmed: whether South Kesteven has an Article 4 direction on house shares.

## Civil penalty policy

The council's policy sets how it decides the size of a fine. The version we found has been updated for the Renters' Rights Act.

No standalone housing civil penalty policy is listed on the council's Policies page. The Corporate Enforcement Policy 2026 (image-only PDF created 23 July 2026, read as page images) contains a private sector housing civil penalty matrix in the Renters' Rights Act format: starting points, statutory maxima of £40,000 for offences, and landlord-type adjustments (for example, knowingly permitting over-occupation of an HMO, s.72(2): starting point £20,000, maximum £40,000), and sections on Renters' Rights Act 2025 breaches. The policy's approval date was not confirmed.

Policy: https://www.southkesteven.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2026-08/Coporate%20Enforcement%20Policy.pdf

## Consultations

We found no consultations when we researched South Kesteven.

## Not yet confirmed

We could not settle these points when we researched South Kesteven on 26 October 2026. Check them with the council before you rely on them.

- No selective or additional licensing scheme found. Checked: the council's private renting and HMO pages, its Policies page and the full website sitemap for selective/additional licensing pages. Committee papers not searched.
- Confirm the approval date of the Corporate Enforcement Policy 2026 that carries the RRA civil penalty matrix.
- Article 4: whether South Kesteven has an HMO (C3 to C4) Article 4 direction is not confirmed. Checked: the council website sitemap (only a conservation Article 4 page) and planning.data.gov.uk (no Article 4 records for the council). None was found, but absence is inferred, not stated by the council; confirm with its planning team.

## Landlord register

The national landlord register is separate from licensing. South Kesteven is in East Midlands, where registration is planned from 15 February 2027 to 14 May 2027. The regulations are still in draft. Read about the register: https://lettance.com/register

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From Lettance: https://lettance.com/councils/south-kesteven (catalogue edition 31 October 2026). This is information, not legal advice. Check the linked sources, and the council's own pages, before you act.