Rent with Confidence Bristol: How to Claim Your Landlord Licence Discount

What Rent with Confidence Gets You

Rent with Confidence (RWC) is the West of England's landlord accreditation scheme, recognised by Bristol City Council as qualifying for a £150 discount on property licence fees. Combined with the separate £150 early safety certificate discount, an accredited landlord saves £300 on every licence — enough to cover the accreditation cost several times over.

The discount is credited against the Part 2 fee, which is the payment the council invoices after it decides to grant your licence. You must hold accredited membership when you apply and provide evidence by the Part 2 payment deadline — getting accredited after you've already paid Part 2 won't trigger a retrospective refund.

How to Get Accredited

RWC accreditation is available through the South West Landlords Association (SWLA), which runs the scheme across the West of England region. Membership is £45 per year, with an accredited training course costing around £65. The NRLA (National Residential Landlords Association) membership at £125 per year also qualifies for the same £150 discount.

The maths is straightforward. A single SWLA membership plus training costs roughly £110. The discount saves £150 on one licence. If you hold multiple licensed properties in Bristol, the saving multiplies — £150 per property, per licence term.

Combining Both Discounts

Bristol offers two £150 discounts that can be combined:

1. Accredited landlord discount: £150 for verified RWC, NRLA, or equivalent membership
2. Early safety certificate discount: £150 for submitting satisfactory Gas Safety, EICR, and EPC documents before the licence is issued under a 2024 scheme, or within three months after issue under a 2022 scheme

For the 2024 schemes, both discounts reduce the Part 2 bill. On a citywide additional HMO licence, that drops the Part 2 payment from £838 to £538. On a central wards selective licence, Part 2 falls from £445 to £145. For the 2022 schemes, the safety-certificate discount is paid as a refund if satisfactory documents are submitted within three months after the full licence is issued.

The timing matters: for the 2024 schemes, submit your safety certificates before the licence is issued to receive the Part 2 discount. For the 2022 schemes, submit satisfactory certificates within three months of the full licence being issued to receive the refund.

What Accreditation Involves

RWC accreditation is available through approved providers, including the South West Landlords Association, which offers accredited training. Check the provider for current course requirements and proof of accredited membership.

The discount is tied to the licence holder or manager's accredited membership, not to a particular property. It can apply to each licence where qualifying membership is verified by the Part 2 payment deadline.

Worth It Even for One Property

A landlord with a single property in Bishopston paying the central wards selective fee saves £300 off a £912 licence by claiming both discounts — a 33% reduction. The total outlay for SWLA membership and training is less than half the saving.

Our Bristol landlord licensing guide includes a timeline showing exactly when to get accredited relative to your application, and how to ensure your safety certificates qualify for the early-submission discount.

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