Property Licensing

Fees, Discounts & Exemptions

Property Licensing - fees

Fees

Below are the costs for new applications, including renewals, under our property licensing schemes: 

Discretionary Scheme Fees

Type of licence Part A Part B
Selective (effective from 6 April 2025) £650 £300
Additional HMO £1000 £400

Mandatory HMO Licence Fees

Size of HMO Application fee - Part A Part B payment Fee for specialist assistance with application (including form completion)
Up to 5 habitable rooms £1000 £500 £170 + £10 per room
6 to 9 habitable rooms £1000 £600 £180 + £10 per room
10 to 14 habitable rooms £1000 £700 £190 + £10 per room
15 to 19 habitable rooms £1000 £800 £200 + £10 per room
20 or more habitable rooms £1000 £1000 £210 + £10 per room

All of our licensing schemes are designed to be cost-neutral. The Council reviews fees annually to ensure they meet scheme costs. 

Reduced term licences

While licences are typically issued for five years, certain circumstances may result in reduced-term licences:

  • Concerns about the property: If there are issues with management, use, condition, occupation, or a retrospective planning application is required, the Council may issue a shorter-term licence. 
  • Unlicensed properties: Properties unlicensed for over three months before an application is made will be issued a one-year licence.
  • Late renewals: Renewals made more than one month after expiry will also result in a one-year licence.

Variations fees and refunds

Scenario Cost 
Change of address details of any existing licence holder, manager, owner, mortgagor, freeholder, leaseholder etc  Free 
Change of mortgagor, owner, freeholder, and leaseholder (unless they are also the licence holder or manager)  Free 
Reduction in the number of maximum occupiers and/or households for licensing purposes  Free 
Variation of licence instigated by the council  Free 
Change of manager (unless they are also the licence holder)  Free 
Revocation of licence  Free
Application for licence following revocation of licence  Full application fee applies 
Application refused by the council     No refund 
Application withdrawn by the applicant  No refund  
Application made in error by someone out of borough  Eligible for a refund  

Discounts

Eligibility criteria and guidance 

To encourage best practices, landlords meeting compliance standards can qualify for discounts on Part B fees. Discounts will automatically be applied. Please read the available guidance on how to prepare for the inspection to maximise the chances of qualifying for the discount for the relevant scheme:

  • Selective guidance (to be published in March 2025)
  • Additional guidance (to be published on 13 January 2025 )
Tier  Requirements  Amount 
Silver compliance award  Satisfactory rating from compliance audit inspection (property meets the standards when inspected)  

Discount on the Part B fee of £200 

 
Gold compliance award 

Landlord accredited*  

AND 

Satisfactory rating from compliance audit inspection (property meets the standards when inspected)  

Discount on the Part B fee of £250 

 

Recognised Accreditation Bodies:

  • London Landlord Accreditation Scheme (LLAS)
  • National Residential Landlord Association (NRLA)
  • British Landlords Association (BLA)
  • Safeagent
  • Propertymark
  • UK Association of Letting Agents (UKALA)

Disqualifications

Applicants are disqualified from compliance awards if:

  • Properties have unauthorised alterations without planning or building regulation approval.
  • The property was unlicensed for over three months after the scheme came into effect or from when it was occupied.
  • Fit and proper checks raise concerns.
  • Certification is non-compliant.

Special Circumstances

In certain situations, landlords may still qualify for compliance awards despite specific issues with the property.

  • Freeholder Responsibility: If a hazard is the responsibility of the freeholder, landlords may still qualify for an award if they provide evidence showing they reported the issue to the freeholder before the inspection date.
  • Tenant Negligence: If disrepair is caused by tenant negligence, landlords remain responsible for resolving the issue but may recover costs from the tenant. This could involve deducting the costs from the tenancy security deposit or pursuing a claim through the small claims court, provided the claim is reasonable and supported by evidence. Where evidence demonstrates that the tenant has been found liable, such as a court judgement or a written agreement confirming the deduction from the deposit, the Council will consider awarding the compliance discount.

Discount Appeals Process

If you disagree with a decision, you can appeal through the following steps:

  1. Licence Decision Representations: Respond during the licence decision representations process.
  2. Review by Supervising Officer: Your case will be reviewed by a senior officer.
  3. Escalation to Licensing Oversight Panel: If necessary, the case may be escalated to the panel for a final decision.

If your appeal is upheld, the discount will be applied retrospectively, and any overpayment will be refunded. Please note that a discount disqualification does not determine whether we issue a licence.

Exemptions

Some tenancies and licences to occupy a property are exempt from licensing. 

Exemption Mandatory Licensing Additional Licensing Selective Licensing
Properties that meet the converted block of flats test ('section 257 HMOs') Yes Yes No
Flats in multiple occupation in a purpose-built block of flats housing three or more flats Yes No No
Properties let by a local authority or a registered provider (RP) Yes Yes Yes
Properties already under a management order or empty dwelling management order Yes Yes Yes
Owners who live in a property they own as their main residence (owner-occupiers) Yes Yes Yes
Holiday lets and tenancies under a long lease and business tenancies Yes Yes Yes
Houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) managed by a registered charity (night shelters, temporary housing for vulnerable individuals) Yes Yes Yes
Buildings primarily used by a religious community for prayer, contemplation, education, or helping the suffering Yes Yes Yes
Student accommodation managed by educational institutions (e.g., halls of residence) Yes Yes Yes
Single family dwellings occupied by one household Yes Yes No
Homes with up to two lodgers Yes Yes No
HMOs converted into two self-contained flats (specific ownership/control criteria) Yes Yes No

Temporary Exemption Notice

A Temporary Exemption Notice (TEN) may be granted under specific circumstances. It is important to note that a TEN will not be granted if the application is made to avoid licensing or enforcement action. Applications must be timely and include supporting evidence.

Conditions for Granting a TEN:

Applicable during the start of a new designation coming into force

  1. The property is in the process of being sold.
  2. The owner has given the tenants notice, and the property will be sold.
  3. The owner is moving into the property, which will only be occupied by the owner, their family (if any), and no more than two tenants.
  4. The property is being converted into studios/flats or commercial premises with planning and building control approvals.
  5. Receivers take over the property following a mortgage default.
  6. The licence holder has died, and the property is subject to probate. An automatic 3-month exemption will be granted from the date of death, with no initial application required. A TEN may be needed when the initial 3-month exemption ends.

Applicable throughout the scheme

A TEN can only be awarded for 3 months. After this period, a new application may be considered based on the circumstances. No more than 2 TENs can be granted. The council is not obliged to issue a TEN, and the application may be refused.

You can apply for a TEN here: Apply for a temporary exemption notice