Birmingham · 2026 fees
Landlord licence fees Birmingham 2026
Every fee below is Birmingham City Council's own published figure, read from the page linked beside it and checked on 20 September 2026. This page sets out which licence a Birmingham property needs, what each one costs, how the payment is split between application and grant, and which discounts come off.
| Scheme | Council | Fee | Term | Notes / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mandatory HMO | Birmingham City Council | £1,125Council’s figure | 5 yrs | For five occupants, as Part A £420 with the application, which is not refunded, and Part B £705 for the licence. Six to eleven occupants is £1,215 and twelve or more £1,300. A renewal costs the same as a new licence, and since the structure introduced on 31 March 2022 there is no longer a discount for accreditation. Applying on paper adds £85 and an advice visit is £200. From the council’s HMO fees summary sheet (PDF). Council page |
| Additional HMO | Birmingham City Council | £755Council’s figure | 5 yrs | A third less than the mandatory licence. Since 5 June 2023 a three or four person share in two or more households needs one anywhere in the city. Council page |
| Selective licensing | Birmingham City Council | £700Council’s figure | 5 yrs | For a single-household let in a designated ward, since 5 June 2023, for a maximum of five years. Birmingham runs all three schemes, so in a designated ward almost every let needs a licence of some kind. Council page |
How to read these Birmingham licence fees
Which fee applies depends on the type of licence a property needs. Three regimes operate across England, and the schedule above covers Mandatory HMO, Additional HMO and Selective licensing in Birmingham:
- Mandatory HMO licence, required for any house in multiple occupation with five or more people forming two or more households, anywhere in England.
- Additional HMO licence, which a council can extend HMO licensing to smaller shared houses inside a designated area.
- Selective licence, covering most or all privately rented homes (not just HMOs) within a specific designated zone, set in five-yearly cycles.
Fees are set per council, usually run for a five-year term and are commonly charged per property, though some authorities add a per-room element for larger HMOs. Following the Hemming and Gaskin court rulings, many councils now split the cost into a Part A application charge and a Part B grant charge, so the headline figure can be payable in two stages. Early-application and accreditation discounts are widely available and can cut the total noticeably.
Because each authority sets and reviews its own schedule independently, two neighbouring councils can differ by hundreds of pounds for the same property. Budget from the specific council’s current fee page, linked in the table, rather than a city-wide average.
FAQs: landlord licence fees in Birmingham
How much does a landlord licence cost in Birmingham in 2026?
Birmingham City Council publishes these fees: Mandatory HMO £1,125, Additional HMO £755 and Selective licensing £700. Each covers 5 years and came straight off the council page linked beside each row, checked on 20 September 2026. The table shows how a fee splits between the application and the grant, and which discounts come off. Most councils reprice on 1 April.
Are licence fees per property or per landlord?
Per property. If you own multiple let properties in designated areas, each one typically needs its own licence and fee. Some councils run portfolio discounts for accredited landlords.
What happens if I let without a licence?
Letting a property that requires a selective or HMO licence without one is a criminal offence. Civil penalties reach £40,000 for offences from 1 May 2026, and tenants can apply for a Rent Repayment Order of up to two years’ rent. Ignorance of the scheme is not a defence.
Do licence fees change year to year?
Yes. Most councils reprice on 1 April and a new scheme cycle can move the fee further. The amounts above are Birmingham City Council's published figures as at 20 September 2026; the council link beside each row is always the live position.
Can I claim licence fees as a rental expense?
HMRC generally treats landlord licence fees as a deductible rental business expense for income tax where the licence is required to let the property. If the fee covers more than one tax year you may need to apportion it. Check with your accountant for your circumstances.
Related
Other cities
