Exeter · 2026 fees
Landlord licence fees Exeter 2026
Exeter licenses mandatory HMOs: five or more people in two or more households, including flats over shops. Its additional scheme ran only until February 2020 and needs no renewal, so a small share is outside licensing now. What still catches people is planning: a citywide Article 4 Direction removes permitted development for small HMOs, so permission can be needed alongside the licence. The figure below is the council’s own.
| Scheme | Council | Fee | Term | Notes / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mandatory HMO | Exeter City Council | £1,071.20Council’s figure | 5 yrs | Part A £298.70 with the application and Part B £772.50 when it is complete, plus £10.80 a bedroom from the sixth, so a seven-bedroom house pays £1,092.80. Accreditation under a nationally recognised scheme takes £125 off Part B. Council fees for 2025/26. A citywide Article 4 Direction also removes permitted development for small HMOs, so planning permission may be needed alongside the licence. Council page |
How to read these Exeter 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 in Exeter:
- 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 Exeter
How much does a landlord licence cost in Exeter in 2026?
Exeter City Council publishes this fee: Mandatory HMO £1,071.20. It covers 5 years and came straight off the council page linked beside it, 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 Exeter 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.
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