UK 2026 fees · selective & HMO
UK landlord licence fees by city · 2026
Indicative selective, additional HMO and mandatory HMO licence fees across UK cities, with direct links to the official council pages. Drill into a city for council-by-council rows.
London
15 fee rows across council schemes
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Manchester
3 fee rows across council schemes
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Liverpool
3 fee rows across council schemes
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Birmingham
3 fee rows across council schemes
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Leeds
2 fee rows across council schemes
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Bristol
3 fee rows across council schemes
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Sheffield
2 fee rows across council schemes
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Newcastle upon Tyne
2 fee rows across council schemes
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Nottingham
3 fee rows across council schemes
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Brighton & Hove
2 fee rows across council schemes
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Coventry
2 fee rows across council schemes
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Salford
3 fee rows across council schemes
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Leicester
2 fee rows across council schemes
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Portsmouth
2 fee rows across council schemes
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Southampton
2 fee rows across council schemes
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Bradford
1 fee rows across council schemes
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Oxford
2 fee rows across council schemes
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Cambridge
1 fee rows across council schemes
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York
2 fee rows across council schemes
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Hull
1 fee rows across council schemes
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Derby
1 fee rows across council schemes
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Stoke-on-Trent
1 fee rows across council schemes
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Reading
2 fee rows across council schemes
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Plymouth
1 fee rows across council schemes
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Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole
1 fee rows across council schemes
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Exeter
1 fee rows across council schemes
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Wigan
1 fee rows across council schemes
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Stockport
1 fee rows across council schemes
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Blackpool
2 fee rows across council schemes
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Medway
1 fee rows across council schemes
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Canterbury
1 fee rows across council schemes
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Doncaster
2 fee rows across council schemes
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Norwich
1 fee rows across council schemes
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Peterborough
3 fee rows across council schemes
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East Suffolk
1 fee rows across council schemes
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Luton
3 fee rows across council schemes
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Slough
2 fee rows across council schemes
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Milton Keynes
1 fee rows across council schemes
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Ipswich
1 fee rows across council schemes
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Wirral
1 fee rows across council schemes
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Sunderland
1 fee rows across council schemes
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The three types of landlord licence in England
Whether you need a licence — and which one — depends on your property and its exact location. There are three schemes, and a single property can fall under more than one. Fees are set by each council, so the figures below are indicative bands to expect, not fixed prices.
Selective licensing
Commonly around £400–£1,000, usually for up to five yearsCovers any privately rented home in a designated area, whatever its type — not just HMOs. Councils designate areas (street by street) to tackle poor housing, low demand or anti-social behaviour. Large designations need central government approval. The only reliable way to know is to check whether your specific address falls inside a designation.
Additional HMO licensing
Set by each council; often similar to the HMO fee band belowA discretionary scheme a council can bring in to cover smaller HMOs (for example three or four sharers) that fall outside mandatory licensing. It only applies where the council has made a designation, so two neighbouring boroughs can have completely different rules.
Mandatory HMO licensing
Commonly around £700–£1,300+, usually for up to five yearsApplies across England to any HMO occupied by five or more people forming two or more separate households who share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet. This one is national — it does not depend on a local designation — and carries stricter room-size and amenity standards.
Fee figures are indicative, vary by council and change frequently. Always confirm the current fee and whether a designation covers your address on the local council’s own website — each city page above links straight to the relevant schemes.
Renting an unlicensed property is an offence
If a property needs a licence and you let it without one, the council can prosecute (an unlimited fine on conviction) or issue a civil penalty of up to £30,000, and the tenant or council can apply for a Rent Repayment Order of up to 12 months’ rent. It can also restrict your ability to recover possession. If you discover you should be licensed, apply immediately — a pending application is treated more favourably than none.
Landlord licence fees: FAQ
Do I need a landlord licence?
It depends on the property and where it is. Three schemes exist in England: mandatory HMO licensing (any HMO with five or more people in two or more households), additional HMO licensing (smaller HMOs in a designated area), and selective licensing (any private rented home in a designated area, whatever its type). Because selective and additional schemes are set street by street by each council, the only reliable check is your local authority — open the city page above, then confirm on the council’s own licensing pages.
How much does a landlord licence cost?
Fees are set by each council and vary widely — commonly around £400–£1,000 for a selective licence and £700–£1,300+ for an HMO licence, usually covering up to five years. Some councils split the fee into an application stage and a grant stage, and offer discounts for accredited landlords. Figures here are indicative and change often, so always confirm the current fee on the council’s website.
How long does a licence last?
Most licences run for up to five years, though some councils issue shorter terms, particularly for new selective schemes or where there are compliance concerns. The exact term is on your licence and on the council’s scheme page.
What happens if I rent out an unlicensed property?
Letting a property that needs a licence without one is a criminal offence. The council can prosecute (an unlimited fine on conviction) or issue a civil penalty of up to £30,000, and the tenant or council can apply for a Rent Repayment Order of up to 12 months’ rent. It can also restrict your ability to recover possession. If you realise you should be licensed, apply immediately — a pending application is treated more favourably than none.
Is a licence the same as the new PRS Database?
No. Local council licensing is separate from the national Private Rented Sector Database being introduced under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025. Depending on your property and area you may eventually need both, so treat them as two different obligations rather than one replacing the other.
Where do I apply for a licence?
Always through the local council for the property’s address, on its own licensing pages. Each city page above links directly to the relevant council schemes so you can check whether a designation covers your street and see the current fee.
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