HMO licence fees

Compliant and timely applications (within three months)

You should apply for a houses in multiple occupation (HMO) licence within three months of the property becoming licensable. The license fees depend on various criteria, explained below.

We encourage all landlords to make timely HMO applications. As an incentive, we offer a lower rate and the option of using an independent surveyor. This applies for applications received withing three months of:

The implementation of The Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (Prescribed Description)(England) Order 2018, on 1 October 2018
The commencement of a designated additional licensing scheme
The property first being let as a licensable HMO
Becoming the person in control of the licensable HMO
The HMO licence renewal date

If your application both:

Reaches us within three months of the HMO becoming licensable by you
If you and your HMO meet all other conditions in full

There are two options:

1. Southampton City Council HMO all-inclusive rate (compliant and timely)

We must inspect your property. Once your application is complete, we will contact you to arrange this.

Your property must meet current standards. If it needs improvements to reach these, we will include those as license conditions. We will give you the details and a reasonable timescale in which to complete them.

2. The landlord independent HMO surveyor rate

To access this rate, the property needs to be compliant with all HMO standards.

Before making your application, you must separately instruct an independent HMO surveyor. This surveyor must be a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) or the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH). They must also hold their own insurance. Please see how to choose an independent HMO surveyor.

The independent HMO surveyor will complete a Certificate of Compliance form. This will prove that your property meets current HMO standards.

The application fee does not include the inspection fee charged by the surveyor. We reserve the right to place any necessary conditions on the licence.

All-inclusive rate (more than three months after becoming licensable)

We will apply this rate if your full and valid application does not reach us in good time. We regard this as within three months of the property becoming licensable (see above).

We must inspect your property. Once your application is complete, we will contact you to arrange this.

HMO licence fees applicable from 1 January 2023

HMO licensing fees are now split into two stages:

Stage one - Payable on application. This covers the costs of administering the application process.
Stage two - Payable on award of the licence. It covers the costs of running the scheme

HMO licence	Stage one	Stage two	Total fee
Landlord independent HMO surveyor compliant rate for timely and compliant applications	£98	£240	£338
Southampton City Council HMO all-inclusive rate for timely and compliant applications	£98	£697	£795
Southampton City Council HMO all-inclusive rate for applications received after the three month deadline	£98	£1,246	£1,344

Buildings owned and managed by private providers of large student accommodation who are members of and comply with Accreditation Network UK (ANUK) National Code for large student developments or any approved code or scheme of compliance, as approved under section 233, Housing Act 2004, are entitled to a 50% reduction on the fees.

Large student accommodation - This is where 15 or more students live in one building. This is either in rooms off a central corridor, cluster flats, or self-contained flats
ANUK Code of Standards - This is for larger developments for student accommodation. It applies where these are not managed and controlled by educational establishments

We need proof of scheme or code membership, and compliance, on your application. For applications of this kind please do not use the online application form. See apply for a HMO license.

Pre-application advice

We offer pre-application advisory visits and a verbal report on site for £60.

Prices are not subject to VAT.

For more information or to book, please contact us.

Refunds

When we offer refunds

We will offer a refund if you have made:

A duplicate application
An application for an exempted property by mistake
An application for a property which is not licensable under Southampton’s HMO licensing schemes

When we do not offer refunds

We will not offer a refund if:

You withdraw your application at any stage
We refuse your application
We revoke (take away) your licence
You are subsequently refused planning permission for your HMO
Your property ceases to be let as an HMO during the term of the licence

Contact HMO licensing

View our contact details.

Document	Type	Size
Additional Fees Table	pdf	81.9 KB
Certificate of Compliance July 2017	doc	114.5 KB
Guidance on selecting an independent HMO Surveyor	pdf	78.2 KB
SCC Criteria For Acceptance of HMO Licensing Certificates of Compliance	pdf	96.0 KB