The Risks of Not Having A Selective License in Leicester have now got REAL
If you’re a landlord with property in Leicester, this is another friendly but firm nudge — especially if you’ve yet to submit a correct Selective Licensing application. Leicester City Council has just released updated figures on the scheme’s progress, and they make for revealing reading.
As of this week:
5,087 applications have been received
4,491 licences have been issued
29 landlords have now been interviewed under caution
22Notices of Intent to fine have been served
And at least 1 file is being prepared for prosecution
What these figures tell us is that a significant number of landlords are still either submitting incomplete or incorrect applications — or have failed to apply at all, as there are over 8500 rental properties in the Selective Licensing Leicester zone. The difference now is that the Council is actively pursuing enforcement. The window for quietly catching up is closing.
What Do These Terms Actually Mean?
The legal language used in these updates can be a little off-putting, so let me quickly explain what each of these steps means in practical terms.
Interview Under Caution
This is a formal, recorded interview — under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) — carried out when the Council believes an offence has been committed (e.g. failing to apply for a licence when required to). You’re advised of your legal rights beforehand, and the contents can be used in court. It’s serious stuff.
Notice of Intent
This is the Council’s formal way of saying: “We believe you’ve breached the rules, and we intend to issue a financial penalty.” You have 28 days to respond — either to admit fault, dispute the facts, or offer a mitigating explanation. In other words, it’s not a fine yet, but it’s heading that way unless there’s a good reason not to proceed.
Civil Penalty
Once the 28-day period passes (and assuming the Council isn’t persuaded otherwise), they can issue a fine — known as a Civil Penalty. The law allows these to go up to £30,000 per property, per owner. In Leicester, we’re already seeing Notices proposing penalties in the region of £12,500 to £22,500 per property. These aren’t small sums.
Prosecution
So What’s the Takeaway?
In plain English: if you’ve got a licensable property in Leicester and you’ve not yet submitted a proper application — or you’re not sure if you’ve done it right — now really is the time to get help.
The evidence is clear: even now, several hundred landlords are still struggling with the process. Many applications have been kicked back for being incomplete or incorrect, and a small but growing number are now on the enforcement radar.
The Help’s Here — You Just Need to Use It
At Northwood Leicester, hundreds of landlords have engaged with us, seeking help to prepare for licensing and using our team to submit fully compliant licensing applications. We know the system inside out. We’re also seeing, first-hand, how easy it is for people to trip up — even well-intentioned landlords.
And we’ll say this again: it’s not worth the risk. The cost of getting expert help is small when you compare it with the potential consequences of getting it wrong.
If you’re unsure whether your property needs a licence, if you’ve already applied and want a second pair of eyes to check it’s right, or if you’ve received a letter from the Council that’s made your stomach sink — get in touch. There’s no judgement here, just practical advice and calm support.
We even have a FREE Selective Licensing Leicester checklist app for you
The very best thing any DIY landlord can do straight away is to click this link to access our Selective Licensing checklist in our new App. It operates in mobile or desktop formats.
In just a few minutes you can check whether licensing even applies to you, and then unravel the documentation that you need for your successful application. The App takes you through each step you’ll need, and provides links to the Council site and interactive map – all courtesy of Northwood Leicester’s expert team.
We Can Help with Your Selective Licensing Application
Not every landlord has the time to check the myriad of compliance issues that are required to get a license. You may find it easier to get the Northwood Leicester team on the case. If you want a FREE 1-to-1 consultation, simply click below to make an appointment. Our expertise in Selective Licensing is acknowledged by Leicester City Council, and we can help pinpoint issues that may hinder your application.
We organise the application for Selective Licensing so you don’t have to, saving you hours of work. We spot any inconsistent things in your current documentation, and sort them before you waste time (and money) on a fruitless failed application. For just £299 plus VAT we’ll sort your whole application, including the mandatory home inspection visits, which will also help you get all that onerous documentation put right once and for all. I’m afraid the council’s fee of an eye-watering £1290 is something we can’t help with…(but the savings compared to the fines and Rent Repayment Orders make up for that).
Get In Touch With a WhatsApp Message
Here’s our direct WhatsApp number for landlords who want to chat through the situation on their own properties. We’re happy to help, any time: WhatsApp dedicated support line: 07594 476403
As ever, remember we are landlords ourselves: we understand the issues you face.
Northwood Leicester: Relax, We’ll Take Care Of It.
