Southwark Landlord Licensing Fees 2026: Part A, Part B and Discounts

The Two-Stage Fee Structure

Southwark property licence fees are split into two instalments. Part A is the processing fee paid when you submit your application. Part B is paid when the application is approved. You cannot pay both upfront — Part B arrives separately, typically three to six months after submission.

Southwark refunds Part A only in exceptional circumstances and if it has not issued a draft licence. You do not pay Part B if the council does not issue a licence; fees are not refunded if the property later no longer needs a licence.

Current Fee Schedule (April 2026)

Selective licence (private rental in a designated ward not covered by mandatory or additional HMO licensing):

• Part A: £661.50
• Part B: £283.50
• Total: £945

Additional HMO licence (3–4 sharers from 2+ households):

• Part A: £1,017.50
• Part B: £415.50
• Total: £1,433

Mandatory HMO licence (5+ occupants from 2+ households, up to 5 letting rooms):

• Part A: £1,157.50
• Part B: £496
• Total: £1,653.50

Each additional letting room above five adds £110 (£77 Part A + £33 Part B). A six-bedroom HMO would cost £1,763.50 total.

Section 257 converted building licence: £0. The building-level licence is free, but individual flats inside that building may each need their own selective licence at £945 if the building sits in one of the 19 designated wards.

Paper application surcharge: Applying on paper rather than through the online portal adds £179.70, plus a £60.50 invoice charge where applicable. Southwark waives these administration charges when you have a valid reason for not applying or paying online, including a disability.

Discounts Worth Knowing About

Gold Standard Charter — 50% off the Part B instalment. Landlords accredited through the London Landlord Accreditation Scheme (LLAS), UK Landlord Accreditation Scheme (UKALA) or the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) can apply for Southwark's Gold Standard status. On a selective licence, that cuts Part B from £283.50 to £141.75, saving £141.75 overall.

Finders' Fee Scheme — 100% Part B waiver. Landlords who lease their property through Southwark's Finders' Fee scheme pay only Part A.

Registered charities — 50% reduction across both Part A and Part B if they provide below-market-rent housing or housing specifically designed and adapted for vulnerable, disabled or older people, or another group protected under the Equality Act 2010.

What the Fees Cover

Part A pays for the council's work processing your application — checking documents, verifying declarations, running the fit and proper person assessment. Part B funds ongoing compliance monitoring, inspections and enforcement activity over the licence term. This split follows European Services Directive principles — the council cannot charge for enforcement work it has not yet done at the point of application.

Planning Your Budget

If you own a single-household rental in a selective ward, budget £945. An HMO shared by three or four occupants costs £1,433. Larger HMOs start at £1,653.50 and scale with bedroom count.

Gold Standard accreditation takes a few weeks to arrange but saves real money on Part B, especially across multiple properties. If you hold three selective licences, the Gold Standard discount saves over £425 across the portfolio.

For a full fee calculator and discount walkthrough, see the Southwark licensing guide.

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