| Selective licence fee, per property | |
|---|---|
| Cost | £1,100 online |
| £1,225 on paper. Paid in two parts. £150 off for Leeds Rental Standard members who own the property. | |
If you rent out a home in parts of East, South and West Leeds, you need a selective licence from Leeds City Council. Everything below comes from the council’s own pages, read on 9 November 2026. Always check the council’s map for your exact street.
Which areas are covered?
Parts of six wards:
- Armley
- Beeston and Holbeck
- Burmantofts and Richmond Hill
- Hunslet and Riverside
- Gipton and Harehills
- Farnley and Wortley
The boundary does not follow whole wards, so use the interactive map and street list on the council’s selective licensing page.
What it costs
The total fee is £1,100 per property online or £1,225 on paper, paid in two parts. For applications made from 26 February 2026:
| Online | Paper | |
|---|---|---|
| First part (with your application) | £400 | £525 |
| Second part (if the licence is granted) | £700 | £700 |
| Second part for Leeds Rental Standard members | £550 | £550 |
Who does not need one
The council lists these exemptions: holiday lets, business premises, socially let homes, student accommodation owned by a university, homes let to a family member (which has a strict legal meaning, so check first), properties where the landlord already holds an HMO licence, and empty properties. Some properties need an HMO licence instead.
Before you apply
You must tell certain people in writing that you are applying: your mortgage lender, any other owners, anyone who manages the property, the proposed licence holder if that is not you, and some tenants or leaseholders. The council provides a template letter.
What the licence asks of you
The conditions include, among others:
- An annual gas safety check by a Gas Safe registered engineer, with the certificate given to the council each year and to tenants
- Keeping the electrical installation and any appliances you provide safe, and giving the council a declaration if it asks
- A working smoke alarm on every storey with living accommodation
- A carbon monoxide alarm in any living room with a fixed combustion appliance (other than a gas cooker)
- Keeping any furniture you provide in a safe condition
Need a gas engineer or an electrician for these checks? See our lists of Leeds plumbers and heating engineers and Leeds electricians.
Questions people ask
When did selective licensing start in these areas?
The council's page says landlords needed to have applied by 9 February 2026. If you buy a rented property in the area after that date, you must apply within 14 days of completing the purchase.
Do I need a licence for each flat?
Yes. The council says you need a licence for each property in the designated area, including each self contained flat.
What happens if I do not apply?
The council can prosecute, with an unlimited fine, or issue a civil penalty of up to £40,000.