Licence fees are split based on the licensing process and procedure into:
- part A – licensing process taken at the point of application
- part B – inspection/compliance checking taken when the licence is issued.
Fees
HMOs outside of the mandatory licensing scheme
Licensing fee for a 5-year licence:
- Total £1,295
- Part A: £558.50
- Part B: £706.50
Other fees
Additional fees include:
- paper applications: Part A: £100
- application refused by the council: No refund of part A fee
- revocation of licence: No refund of part A or B
- application to licence following revocation of licence: Full application fee
- application withdrawn by the applicant part A: No refund
Any property which has over 10 units within its dwelling will be charged an additional £50 per unit (part A).
The licensing fee for a property will be capped regardless of the number of units (part A and part B fees together) at £6,000.
Discounts
If you are a member of a landlord accreditation scheme, you can get a discount of £50 for part A. You must provide a valid membership number and certificate.
Licence periods
Generally, HMO licences are granted for 5 years.
However, the licence period may be reduced in certain circumstances.
| Reason | Maximum possible reduction |
|---|---|
| Failure to comply with previous HMO licence conditions (where applicable) | 2 years |
| Failure to comply with planning requirements | 1 year |
| Council tax payments not up-to-date | 2 years |
| Failure to comply with HMO management regulations | 1 year |
| History of substantiated complaints in respect of the property | 1 year |
| Failure to apply voluntarily for licence | 3 years |
Other factors that may be taken into account include:
- non-compliance with building regulations
- failure to provide up-to-date certificates on time (for previous licences)
- no provision of written tenancy or licence agreements
- existence of significant hazards within the dwelling