The property
Mandatory licensing covers HMOs with five or more people forming two or more households. Additional and selective licence fees are different.
Some councils charge by bedroom or per room.
Some councils charge by the number of people.
Every council sets its own fee for a mandatory HMO licence, and most charge it in two parts. Pick a council to see the fee for a new licence and a renewal, what the fee pays for, how long the licence lasts and the date we read the council's fee page.
Mandatory licensing covers HMOs with five or more people forming two or more households. Additional and selective licence fees are different.
Some councils charge by bedroom or per room.
Some councils charge by the number of people.
Fees for a five-bedroom HMO with five occupiers, standard rate, before any discount. Each figure is copied from the council's own fee page on the date shown.
| Council | New licence | Renewal | Checked |
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Fees change, usually on 1 April. Always check the council's page before you pay; the link is in the result above and in the sources below.
In R (Gaskin) v Richmond upon Thames LBC, decided in 2018, the High Court held that a council may only charge up front for the cost of processing a licence application. The cost of running and enforcing the scheme can only be charged once the licence is granted. That is why almost every council now asks for a first payment with the application and a second payment when it issues the licence. Renewals are often cheaper because the council already holds the file, though some councils charge nearly the same either way.
The fee is only part of the cost. The conditions on the licence, such as fire doors, interlinked alarms and room sizes, usually cost several times more, and the gas, electrical and fire safety certificates have to be in place before you apply.
This page is general information for England and is not legal advice. If your council is not listed, search its website for "HMO licence fee" and look for the current year's fees and charges.
Across the ten councils here, a new five-year mandatory licence for a five-bedroom HMO costs £830 to £1,886, and Lewisham's per-room fee reaches £2,500 for five rooms. That is roughly £166 to £377 a year over the licence.
Up to five years. Councils can grant a shorter licence, often one year, where there are concerns about the property or the manager, and a shorter licence usually costs more per year.
The first part, paid with the application, is usually not refundable because it covers the work of processing the application. The second part is only charged if the council decides to grant the licence.
Yes. A licence cannot be extended, so you apply to renew before it expires and pay the renewal fee. Several councils charge a higher fee if the property has been unlicensed for a period first.
Many councils offer one. Bristol takes £150 off for its accreditation scheme and another £150 for safety certificates, Nottingham charges accredited landlords £1,210 instead of £1,607, and Bradford gives 5 to 15 percent off for complete applications and good standards.
Council fee pages: Cherwell, Oxford, South Cambridgeshire, Coventry, Bradford and Lewisham, read 15 September 2026; Bristol, Portsmouth, Brighton and Hove and Nottingham, read 3 October 2026. Law: Housing Act 2004 section 63 (fees) and GOV.UK on HMO licensing.