Salford Landlord Licensing Fees: Part A, Part B, and How to Pay

Salford splits every licence fee into two parts, and the split matters more than most landlords realise. Part A is the application processing fee — you pay it when you submit, and it is non-refundable once the council has started processing, whether or not the application succeeds. Part B is the grant fee, charged only when the licence is actually approved. Getting your application rejected after processing starts means losing Part A with nothing to show for it.

Selective Licensing Fees

Both selective licensing zones charge similar total fees, but the Part A/B split differs slightly.

Eccles, Barton & Winton:

• First application: £609 total (£366 Part A + £243 Part B)
• Subsequent application (same landlord): £589 (£354 + £235)

Broughton, Kersal & Broughton Park:

• Base application: £609 (£365 Part A + £244 Part B)
• Subsequent application: £570 (£342 + £228)

The "subsequent" discount applies when the same licence holder submits applications for additional properties. It reduces both Part A and Part B.

Mandatory HMO Fees

Standard mandatory HMO fees are higher, reflecting the greater administrative complexity.

• Standard first application: £970 (£679 Part A + £291 Part B)
• Standard subsequent: £945 (£661.50 + £283.50)
• Accredited landlord first: £945 (£661.50 + £283.50)
• Accredited landlord subsequent: £910 (£637 + £273)
• Renewal (submitted before expiry): £895 (£626.50 + £268.50)

Buildings with 13 or more bedrooms attract a surcharge of £40 per room above 12, added to Part A.

Section 257 Additional HMO Fees

The new Section 257 scheme (launching 24 November 2026) uses a tiered structure based on building size.

For a block of 2–4 flats, the base fee is £1,431.65 (£1,053.96 Part A + £377.69 Part B). At 5–8 flats it rises to £1,711.65, and at 9+ flats to £1,991.65. Accredited landlords who apply before 24 November 2026 can save over £100 — the accredited early rate for 2–4 flats drops to £1,321.02. The council also lists an early-application tier for applications submitted before 24 November 2026 or within three months of purchase: £1,365.80 for 2–4 flats, £1,645.80 for 5–8 flats, and £1,925.80 for 9 or more.

Accreditation Discounts

Salford runs a voluntary Landlord Accreditation Scheme covering over 750 members and 3,000 properties. Both the landlord and the property must achieve full accreditation before the scheme's cutoff date to qualify for the accredited rate. For the Section 257 scheme, that deadline is 24 November 2026. A separate early-application rate may still apply to a property purchased within the previous three months.

The savings are meaningful — up to £110 on a Section 257 application — but the accreditation process itself takes time, so starting early matters.

Payment Options

Salford offers five interest-free payment routes through the online portal:

1. Full upfront payment by debit or credit card
2. Twelve monthly direct debit instalments
3. Thirty-six monthly direct debit instalments
4. 25% upfront deposit followed by 23 monthly direct debits
5. 50% upfront deposit followed by 11 monthly direct debits

All fees are exempt from VAT as statutory local authority charges.

Refunds

Part A is non-refundable once processing begins — even if you withdraw the application or the property is sold before the licence is granted. Part B is refunded in full if the licence is not issued. Changing the licence holder on an existing licence costs the same as a full new application.

The Salford Landlord Licensing Guide includes fee calculators for every scheme and a breakdown of which discounts apply to your situation.

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