Waltham Forest Property Licensing Fees: Full Breakdown for 2026/2027
The Two-Part Fee Structure
Waltham Forest splits every licence fee into two payments, following the Hemming v. Westminster ruling under the Provision of Services Regulations 2009:
- Part A covers application processing — you pay this when you submit
- Part B covers scheme administration and compliance monitoring — you pay this when the council notifies you the licence is ready to be granted
Part A is non-refundable. If your application is refused or you withdraw, you don't get it back.
Selective Licence Fees
The standard selective licence costs £895 total:
| Component | Standard | Multi-Property | EPC C | EPC A/B | Charity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part A | £300 | £175 | £300 | £300 | £300 |
| Part B | £595 | £595 | £500 | £300 | £100 |
| Total | £895 | £770 | £800 | £600 | £400 |
The multi-property discount applies when you license multiple self-contained flats in the same building simultaneously under the same licence holder — a £125 saving per additional dwelling on Part A.
Additional HMO Licence Fees
For smaller HMOs (3–4 occupants from 2+ households sharing basic amenities), the additional licence costs £1,200:
| Component | Standard | Multi-Property | EPC C | EPC A/B |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part A | £600 | £475 | £600 | £600 |
| Part B | £600 | £600 | £505 | £200 |
| Total | £1,200 | £1,075 | £1,105 | £800 |
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Mandatory HMO Licence Fees
Mandatory HMO fees scale with the number of units:
| Property Size | Part A | Part B | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 8 units | £825 | £825 | £1,650 |
| 9–19 units | £1,100 | £1,100 | £2,200 |
| 20+ units | £2,750 | £2,750 | £5,500 |
No EPC or multi-property discounts are available for mandatory HMO licences.
When Discounts Don't Apply
The council invalidates EPC and charity discounts if it has already incurred enforcement or investigation costs — such as issuing warning letters or investigating unlicensed operation — before you submit your application. Landlords who wait until those costs have been incurred may lose access to those discounts.
Refunds are equally strict. LBWF issues no refunds for Part A fees, and no refunds on granted licences if the property is sold, surrendered, or ceases to be let during the licence term.
Comparing With Letting Agent Fees
Local letting agents charge £240 to £799+VAT on top of the council's statutory fees to handle the application for you. That puts a managed application at £1,135 to £1,700+ for a standard selective licence.
The Waltham Forest Landlord Licensing Guide walks through every step of the self-application process, from document preparation to portal submission, so you can handle it yourself and keep the agency fee in your pocket.
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