HMO licence York: schemes, fees and tribunal record

York licensing schemes in force or approved

Additional HMO licensing · Additional HMO licensing (8 wards)

In force

Area covered	Listed wards only (8 wards)
Designation made	17 Aug 2022
Runs	1 Apr 2023 to 31 Mar 2028
Fee	£1,524 (Part A £914 + Part B £610) 2026/27 Band A 3-6 occupants; B 7-9 £1,779 (1,067+712); C 10-14 £1,944 (1,166+778); D 15+ £2,186 (1,312+874); same fees for mandatory
Discounts	£75 off second (Part B) fee with relevant HMO qualification/training
Renewal	same as new
Late / penalty fee	extra admin charge at hourly enforcement rate for unregistered HMOs brought in

Wards in the scheme (8)

Clifton · Fishergate · Fulford and Heslington · Guildhall · Heworth · Hull Road · Micklegate · Osbaldwick and Derwent

Ward or street lists can split a road. Use the council's own address checker or designation map before relying on this list.

Council licensing page Designation notice Council address checker Public register

Note from our check: public notice https://www.york.gov.uk/downloads/file/8391/public-notice-designation-of-an-area-for-hmo-additional-licensing; end date not on page (5y cap)

Checked 28 Sept 2026.

Upcoming: consultations and key dates in York

Date	What	Scheme	Source
31 Mar 2028 estimated (start + 5 years) in 550 days	scheme end	Additional HMO licensing	council

Want a reminder before a deadline? Use the form at the bottom of this page and pick "Email me before my deadlines".

Mandatory HMO licensing in York

Whatever the local schemes, a licence is required for any house in multiple occupation let to 5 or more people forming 2 or more households who share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet. This rule is national and has applied since 1 October 2018. Letting without a required licence is a criminal offence under section 72 of the Housing Act 2004. Read do I need an HMO licence? and how to apply.

York HMO licence register

The council's public register of licensed properties: City of York Council public register. Use it to check whether a property already holds a licence, for example before you buy. Licences do not transfer to a new owner.

York Article 4 and HMO planning rules

Official planning data lists 1 HMO Article 4 area for York. Inside these areas, turning a family house (use class C3) into a small HMO (C4) needs planning permission.

HMO Article 4 area	In effect from	Document
HMO	20 Apr 2012	view

Licensing and planning are separate. A licence does not give planning permission, and planning permission does not replace a licence. See Article 4 and HMOs.

Tribunal record: rent repayment orders and civil penalties in York

Figures below count First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) decisions published on GOV.UK for properties located in York. They show how tenants and the council use enforcement here. Most civil penalties are paid without appeal, so they never reach the tribunal.

Rent repayment order decisions	7 (2 in the last 3 years)
Orders made	7 (100% of decisions with a known outcome)
Median award	£4,688 (last 3 years: £6,044)
Total awarded	£54,239
Civil penalty appeals	0
Other Housing Act appeals (licence terms, notices, orders)	1

Recent rent repayment order decisions in York

Decided	Area	Property	Offence alleged	Outcome	Amount	Decision
18 May 2026	YO10	HMO	unlicensed HMO	Order made	£7,399	GOV.UK
28 Apr 2025	YO30	HMO	unlicensed HMO	Order made	£4,688	GOV.UK
30 Nov 2020	YO31	HMO	unlicensed HMO	Order made	£28,000	GOV.UK
6 Apr 2020	YO10	HMO	unlicensed HMO	Order made	£11,096	GOV.UK
28 Jan 2020	YO10	House / not stated	failure to comply with improvement notice; HMO management regulations	Order made	£1,994	GOV.UK

Amounts and outcomes are extracted automatically from the decision text and can be wrong; open the decision on GOV.UK for the full reasons. Party names are not shown. Information, not legal advice.

If you have let without a licence you needed, read unlicensed property: what to do, rent repayment orders and civil penalties.

Landlord database deadline for York

York is in the Yorkshire and The Humber region of the new Private Rented Sector Database. Registration opens 15 Apr 2027 and the deadline to register is 14 Jul 2027. The published fee is £65 per property per year. Database registration is separate from council licensing: you may need both. See register your rental property.

Get help with a York licence application

We can prepare a licence application for you for a fixed fee; the council's own fee is separate. See pricing for what is included and how we make money. You can also run a full address check on the postcode checker.

York licensing: common questions

Is there selective licensing in York?

We found no selective licensing scheme on City of York Council's website as of 28 Sep 2026. Mandatory HMO licensing still applies to 5+ people in 2+ households. Confirm with the council.

How much is an HMO licence in York?

Additional HMO licensing: £1,524 (2026/27 Band A 3-6 occupants; B 7-9 £1,779 (1,067+712); C 10-14 £1,944 (1,166+778); D 15+ £2,186 (1,312+874); same fees for mandatory). Fees for mandatory HMO licences are set by the council and published on its fees page.

Does York have an Article 4 direction for HMOs?

Official planning data lists 1 HMO Article 4 area for York. Inside these areas, turning a family house (use class C3) into a small HMO (C4) needs planning permission.

Where is the York HMO licence register?

The council publishes its public register of licences here: City of York Council register. Councils must keep a register of licences under section 232 of the Housing Act 2004.

How often do landlords in York face rent repayment orders or fines?

The First-tier Tribunal has published 7 rent repayment order decisions for properties in York (7 with an order made), median award £4,688, and 0 civil penalty appeals. Most penalties are never appealed, so the true number of fines is higher.

Sources

Last checked 28 Sep 2026. Information, not legal advice. Licensing schemes change often; always confirm with the council before you act.

HMO licence York: licensing schemes, fees and enforcement