Nottingham Selective Licensing Fees: Part A, Part B and the Two-Stage Payment Structure

How Much Does a Selective Licence Cost in Nottingham?

Nottingham City Council uses a two-stage fee structure for selective licensing under Scheme 2. The total cost depends on whether you hold accreditation through DASH Services, Unipol, or ANUK. As of April 2026:

• Accredited landlord: £759 total (£290 Part A + £469 Part B)
• Standard non-accredited: £950 total (£290 Part A + £660 Part B)
• Less compliant: £1,318 total (£290 Part A + £1,028 Part B)

The "less compliant" tier applies to landlords with a history of housing enforcement action, failed inspections, or extensive council administrative chasing. If you're applying for the first time with a clean record, you'll fall into either the accredited or standard category.

Paper applications add a £113 surcharge on top of these figures (£39 for the form request plus a £74 processing charge). The online portal is cheaper and faster.

How the Two-Stage Payment Works

This is where landlords regularly get caught out. The total fee is split into two payments at different points in the process:

Part A (£290) — paid when you submit your application through the council's online portal. This covers the council's administrative costs for processing your application and running background checks. It's due immediately and must clear before your application qualifies as "duly made" under the Housing Act 2004.

Part B (£469–£1,028) — demanded later, after the council issues a Notice of Intention to Grant the licence. You'll receive an email from the council requesting payment. Part B covers the ongoing costs of monitoring, compliance checks, and enforcement across the licensing scheme. The licence isn't granted until Part B is paid.

The timing gap between Part A and Part B varies. It can be weeks or months, depending on how quickly the council processes your application and whether they schedule an inspection. The Part B demand can arrive unexpectedly if you've mentally filed the application as "done" after paying Part A.

What Happens If You Don't Pay Part B

If the Part B invoice goes unpaid within the council's payment window, your application can be cancelled. At that point your property is legally unlicensed — despite the fact that you already paid £290 and submitted a full application. The Part A fee is non-refundable.

This isn't an edge case. It's a common pitfall for landlords who treat the initial Part A payment as the total cost, or who miss the Part B email notification. Monitor your email and the portal regularly after submitting your application.

The Accreditation Discount

The gap between accredited and standard fees is £191 on a selective licence. DASH landlord training costs £65. So for a single property, accreditation saves you a net £126. For two properties, that's £382 saved against a one-time £65 investment.

DASH (Decent and Safe Homes) is the main regional accreditation body recognised by Nottingham City Council. Unipol and ANUK accreditation also qualify. Completing the accreditation before you apply locks in the lower Part B rate.

Fees Are Non-Refundable and Non-Transferable

Once the council starts processing your application, the fee is gone regardless of outcome. If your licence is refused, if you withdraw the application, or if the council grants a shorter term than the standard five years, you don't get a partial refund.

Licences are also tied to the specific property and licence holder. They can't be transferred to a new owner when you sell. The buyer needs their own licence and pays their own fees from scratch.

Budget for the Full Cycle

A realistic budget for a single selective licence application:

1. DASH accreditation: £65 (one-time, optional but recommended)
2. Part A fee: £290 (due on application)
3. Part B fee: £469 accredited / £660 standard (due before licence grant)
4. Safety certificates if not current: Gas Safety Record, EICR (5-yearly), EPC minimum E rating

Our Nottingham landlord licensing guide includes a fee payment log worksheet that maps out the Part A and Part B timeline, so you can track exactly where you are in the payment cycle and avoid the Part B surprise.

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