Redbridge Property Licensing Fees 2026/27: Selective and HMO Fee Breakdown

Redbridge splits every property licence fee into two stages, and the timing of each payment matters more than most landlords realise. Pay Part A too early — before your documents are ready — and you start a 28-day countdown that can expire with your application incomplete.

How the Two-Stage Fee Works

Part A (Stage 1) covers application processing. You pay it when you submit your completed application through the online portal. It is generally non-refundable; the council grants full refunds only for duplicate applications or applications for properties that are legally exempt from licensing.

Part B (Stage 2) covers inspection, enforcement, and scheme administration for the licence term. The council invoices Part B after it approves your draft licence and the 14-day consultation window closes. You must pay Part B before the final licence is issued.

The two-stage model means you pay Part A when you apply and the larger Part B balance once the council has approved the draft licence and resolved any representations.

Selective Licensing Fees (2026/27)

The £35 accreditation discount applies when you provide proof of LLAS completion or an equivalent five-hour accredited landlord training course at the time of application. If you haven't completed the course yet, the council allows up to 18 months after licence grant to finish it, but you won't get the discount applied retrospectively on Part B.

HMO Licensing Fees (2026/27)

Both additional HMO and mandatory HMO licences share the same fee schedule. Part A is fixed at £696.14 regardless of property size. Part B scales with the number of households.

Household count means distinct households, not individual people. Three unrelated tenants sharing a flat form three households, putting the property in the 3-household band at £1,969.60.

Extra Charges

Paper application surcharge: £139.23 on top of the standard fee if you submit on paper instead of online.

Pre-application advisory visit: £477 for a council officer to inspect the property and produce a compliance report before you apply. This is optional but useful if you're unsure whether the property meets physical standards.

When Fees Are Not Refundable

Part A is non-refundable in most situations. The only exceptions are genuine duplicate applications for the same property or applications for properties that turn out to be legally exempt from licensing.

If the council refuses your licence, you withdraw the application, the property is sold during processing, or it becomes subject to a prohibition notice, the Part A fee stays with the council.

Timing the Payment

The practical risk with fees is starting the portal application before your documents are assembled. Once you create a portal account and begin an application, the 28-day clock starts. If you can't complete and pay within 28 days, the draft expires and you lose the work.

The Redbridge Landlord Licensing Guide includes a pre-application checklist designed to be completed before you touch the portal — so every document is ready and Part A payment goes through on the same session you start the form.

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