Last updated: 1 April 2026
HMO license fees must be levied in 2 parts:
Part 1: Application Fee (payable at the time of submitting an application) – This element of the fee will cover the costs incurred by the council to process the application up to the point of the decision being made to issue or refuse the licence. This fee is non-refundable. Read the refund policy for more information.
Part 2: Licence Issue Fee (payable within 14 days following receipt of the ‘Notice of Intention to Grant a License’) – This element of the fee covers the costs of issuing the licence, as well as operating and enforcing the HMO licensing scheme. Failure to make this payment will leave the property unlicensed and likely to result in enforcement action. This licence fee is not required if the licence application is refused. Please note: once a full license is issued this fee is non-refundable, even if the license is later revoked. Read the refund policy for more information.
The HMO licence application process involves a verification inspection, or a desktop survey, after which a draft licence will be issued to the applicant for comment, along with a request for the Part 2 payment. The final licence will only be issued following receipt of this payment. Failure to pay will result in the licence not being granted leaving the property unlicensed. Unlicensed properties are liable to legal enforcement action.
| Application type | Stage 1 | Stage 2 | Total fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| New application – 5 year licence | £222 | £664 | £886 |
| New application – 2.5 year licence | £222 | £695 | £917 |
| New application – 1 year licence | £222 | £1,007 | £1,229 |
| Licence renewal – 5 year | £145 | £700 | £845 |
| Licence renewal – 2.5 years | £145 | £595 | £740 |
| Licence renewal – 1 year | £145 | £564 | £709 |