HMO licence fees

Compliant and timely applications (within three months)

HMO licences should be applied for within three months of the property becoming licensable. The fee payable for a HMO licence varies depending on what criteria is met.

We encourage all landlords to make timely HMO applications by offering the option of using an independent surveyor and a lower rate for those received within three months of the following:

• 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 reaches us within three months of the HMO becoming licensable by you, and you and your HMO meet all other conditions in full, there are two options available:

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

   We will contact you on completion of your application to arrange an inspection of the property.

   If any improvements are required to reach current standards, these will be included as a licence condition. You will be given full details and a reasonable timescale to complete them.

2. The landlord independent HMO surveyor rate

   To access this rate, the property needs to be fully compliant with all HMO standards. Before making your application, you must separately instruct an independent HMO surveyor, who is a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) or the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH), and who holds their own insurance. Please see guidance on how to choose an independent HMO surveyor for more information.

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

The application fee does not include the inspection fee charged by the independent HMO surveyor. The council reserves the right to place any conditions on the licence which it deems necessary.

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

If your full and valid application does not reach us within three months of the property becoming licensable (see above), then the all-inclusive rate will be applied.

We will contact you on completion of your application to arrange an inspection of the property.

If any improvements are required to reach current standards, these will be included as a licence condition. You will be given full details and a reasonable timescale to complete them.

HMO licence fees applicable from 1 January 2023

HMO licensing fees are now split into two stages. Stage one is payable on application and covers the costs of administering the application process. Stage two is payable on award of the licence and 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	£88*	£231*	£319*
Southampton City Council HMO all-inclusive rate for timely and compliant applications	£88*	£628*	£716*
Southampton City Council HMO all-inclusive rate for applications received after the three month deadline	£88*	£1,123*	£1,211*

*Buildings owned and managed by private providers of large student accommodation# who are members of and comply with ANUK National code for large student developments## or any approved code or scheme of compliance, as approved under section 233, Housing Act 2004, will be entitled to a 50% reduction on the fees. Proof of scheme or code membership & compliance will be required on application. For applications of this kind please do not use the online application form. Please contact us (see below) to discuss your application.

#where 15 or more students live in one building, either in rooms off a central corridor, cluster flats or self-contained flats
## The ANUK Code of Standards for larger developments for student accommodation not managed and controlled by educational establishments

The council also offers pre-application advisory visit and verbal report on site for £60. Please email hmo@southampton.gov.uk

Prices are not subject to VAT.

Refunds

A full refund will be given if:

• You have made a duplicate application
• You made an application for an exempted property by mistake
• You made an application for a property which is not licensable under Southampton’s HMO licensing schemes

A refund will not be given 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

Document	Type	Size
Additional Fees Table	pdf	85.3 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

• Phone: 023 8083 3006
• Address: HMO Licensing Team, Regulatory Services, Civic Centre, Southampton SO14 7LY

For more information on HMOs visit our Houses in Multiple Occupation page.