Doncaster · 2026 fees
Landlord licence fees Doncaster 2026
This page rolls up the selective, additional and mandatory HMO licence fees that apply to private landlords in Doncaster. The exact amounts are City of Doncaster Council's own published figures; any fee shown with a tilde or as a range is an editorial estimate, not yet matched to a council document, so open the council link before you budget.
| Scheme | Council | Fee | Term | Notes / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mandatory HMO (new) | City of Doncaster Council | £1,008Council’s figure | 5 yrs | Up to 5 bedrooms, then £69 for each extra room. Renewal £939 on the same basis, and the renewal must be in before the current licence lapses. Council fees for 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027; £44 is added where extra correspondence is needed and £50 for late payment. Council page |
| Selective licensing | City of Doncaster Council | ~£515Not yet confirmed | 5 yrs | An editorial estimate: Doncaster publishes the Hexthorpe scheme in detail but not its fee, so ask the council before you budget. The scheme covers the Hexthorpe area only and runs from 2022 to 2027. Council page |
How to read these Doncaster licence fees
Which fee applies depends on the type of licence a property needs. Three regimes operate across England, and the schedule above covers Mandatory HMO (new) and Selective licensing in Doncaster:
- Mandatory HMO licence, required for any house in multiple occupation with five or more people forming two or more households, anywhere in England.
- Additional HMO licence, which a council can extend HMO licensing to smaller shared houses inside a designated area.
- Selective licence, covering most or all privately rented homes (not just HMOs) within a specific designated zone, set in five-yearly cycles.
Fees are set per council, usually run for a five-year term and are commonly charged per property, though some authorities add a per-room element for larger HMOs. Following the Hemming and Gaskin court rulings, many councils now split the cost into a Part A application charge and a Part B grant charge, so the headline figure can be payable in two stages. Early-application and accreditation discounts are widely available and can cut the total noticeably.
Because each authority sets and reviews its own schedule independently, two neighbouring councils can differ by hundreds of pounds for the same property. Budget from the specific council’s current fee page, linked in the table, rather than a city-wide average.
FAQs: landlord licence fees in Doncaster
How much does a landlord licence cost in Doncaster in 2026?
The confirmed figure on this page is Mandatory HMO (new) £1,008, covering 5 years. The other rows are editorial estimates, not yet matched to a council document, so open the council link beside them before you budget.
Are licence fees per property or per landlord?
Per property. If you own multiple let properties in designated areas, each one typically needs its own licence and fee. Some councils run portfolio discounts for accredited landlords.
What happens if I let without a licence?
Letting a property that requires a selective or HMO licence without one is a criminal offence. Civil penalties reach £40,000 for offences from 1 May 2026, and tenants can apply for a Rent Repayment Order of up to two years’ rent. Ignorance of the scheme is not a defence.
Do licence fees change year to year?
Yes. Councils review fees every scheme renewal cycle, typically every five years, and some adjust between cycles. Figures written with a tilde or as a range on this page are editorial estimates, so click through to the council page for the live fee.
Can I claim licence fees as a rental expense?
HMRC generally treats landlord licence fees as a deductible rental business expense for income tax where the licence is required to let the property. If the fee covers more than one tax year you may need to apportion it. Check with your accountant for your circumstances.
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