How much does an HMO licence cost?
Written by Sam Allcock · Last updated 23 August 2026 · Facts checked against GOV.UK guidance on the date above
There's no single national fee for an HMO licence - each council sets and publishes its own charge, so the honest answer is that your cost depends on where the property is, not a fixed GOV.UK price.
GOV.UK is explicit about this: "you'll be charged a fee which is set by the council," with no national figure quoted anywhere on its own guidance (GOV.UK, checked 23 August 2026).
This guide explains why there's no single number to quote, what the fee actually pays for, how the 5-year duration affects value for money, and exactly how to find the real figure for your property.
This is general information, not financial or legal advice. Always confirm the exact fee with your own council before budgeting for a licence.
Why isn't there one national HMO licence fee?
Because licensing itself is administered locally, not centrally - your council, not GOV.UK, is the licensing authority, and each one sets its own charging structure to cover its own costs.
This is different from some other UK licences, which do carry a single statutory, nationally-set fee - HMO and landlord licensing simply isn't one of them, and no amount of searching GOV.UK will turn up a fixed figure, because one doesn't exist.
It's also worth checking which type of licence you're being quoted for: because mandatory HMO licensing, additional licensing and selective licensing are three separate schemes, it's worth confirming with your council whether the fee is the same across all three or differs by licence type in your area.
There is no drip pricing here because there's nothing to drip: the only fee involved is the one your council sets. Check your council's fee on GOV.UK →
What does the fee actually pay for?
The fee funds the council's own licensing process, including the property assessment and ongoing enforcement, not just the paperwork of issuing a licence.
As part of that process, your council must carry out a Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) risk assessment on your HMO within 5 years of receiving your licence application, and you'll be required to fix any hazards it identifies.
The council also runs a "fit and proper person" check on the licence holder or manager before granting a licence, which is administrative work the fee is intended to cover.
Does the 5-year duration affect value for money?
Yes - because an HMO licence lasts for a maximum of 5 years, it's worth thinking about the fee as a cost spread across that period rather than a one-off annual charge.
You need to apply to renew before your licence expires, since it doesn't renew automatically, and a lapsed licence carries the same risk as never having applied for one in the first place.
See our HMO & landlord licensing hub for what happens if you let a property without the licence it needs.
How do you find the exact fee for your property?
You find your real cost by going directly to your own council, since that's the only place the actual figure is published.
- Identify your council using GOV.UK's postcode-based tool on its HMO licence page.
- Search that council's website for "HMO licence fee" or "landlord licensing fee" - most publish a fee schedule on their private-sector housing pages.
- Check which licence type you need first using our do I need an HMO licence? guide, since the fee can differ between mandatory, additional and selective licences.
- Contact the council directly if the fee isn't published clearly, or if your situation doesn't fit the standard categories on their website.
We're building a postcode-based council fee checker for this section. Coming soon Until it's live, go straight to GOV.UK's official HMO licence page → or see the full HMO & landlord licensing hub.
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay the HMO licence fee every year, or once for the licence?
You pay it when you apply, and the resulting licence then lasts for up to 5 years before you need to renew and pay again - it isn't an annual charge.
Does the cost differ between additional and selective licensing?
It can - because mandatory HMO licensing, additional licensing and selective licensing are administered as separate schemes, even the same council isn't guaranteed to charge the same fee for each, so it's worth confirming which one applies to you before assuming a figure.
Is there a separate fee per bedroom or per tenant, or one fee per property?
GOV.UK's own guidance describes the fee as being set by the council without specifying a per-room or per-tenant structure, so this is exactly the kind of detail to confirm on your council's own fee schedule rather than assume.
What happens to the fee if my application is refused?
We couldn't confirm a general rule on this from GOV.UK's own guidance, since refund policy is set locally - check this directly with your council before you apply.
Who do I actually pay the fee to?
Your local council, directly - HMO and landlord licensing fees are never paid to a private company, including us, since we don't currently offer a paid HMO application service.
apply for licence is an independent guide and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to GOV.UK, any local council, or any government body. This page is general information, not legal or financial advice - for the exact fee that applies to your property, contact your local council's private-sector housing or licensing team.