HMO LICENSING · GUIDE
How much does an HMO licence cost in Bristol?
The council’s fees for each licence scheme, what the discounts are, and when you have to apply.
How much does an HMO licence cost in Bristol?
The council’s fee for a first-time licence under the citywide Additional scheme is £1,861. It is paid in two parts: £1,023 when you apply and £838 before the licence is issued. A renewal is £1,470 (£808, then £662). A licence lasts up to five years. Fees can change, so check the council’s fees page before you pay.
| Scheme | Total | On application | Before the licence is issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citywide Additional, first licence (from 6 August 2024) | £1,861 | £1,023 | £838 |
| Citywide Additional, renewal | £1,470 | £808 | £662 |
| Additional: Bedminster, Brislington West and Horfield (from 6 April 2022) | £1,300 | £1,000 | £300 |
| Selective: Bedminster and Brislington West (from 6 April 2022) | £799 | £499 | £300 |
| Selective: Bishopston and Ashley Down, Cotham and Easton (from 6 August 2024) | £912 | £467 | £445 |
Source: Bristol City Council licence fee pages, read 11 November 2026.
Mandatory, Additional or Selective: which one is mine?
It depends on who lives there. Mandatory licensing covers a house or flat rented to five or more people from two or more households who share a toilet, bathroom or cooking facilities. The citywide Additional scheme covers the same kind of let when three or four people live there. Selective licensing covers other private rentals, occupied by one or two tenants or a family, in the Bishopston and Ashley Down, Cotham and Easton wards. The council counts a household as one person, a couple living together or a family, so five friends are five households. See Bristol areas for the area detail.
Are there any discounts on the Bristol HMO licence fee?
The council’s fees page lists two £150 discounts on the second payment. One is for applicants who hold accredited Rent with Confidence membership when they apply. The other is for supplying a gas safety record, an electrical installation condition report and an EPC before the licence is issued. You need to provide proof by the deadline for the second payment. The page does not say whether the two can be combined, so ask the council if you qualify for both.
When do I have to apply?
For a newly rented property you have 28 days to apply from when the property was occupied. Existing Additional licences that expire before August 2029 are replaced by a citywide Additional licence when they expire, so the renewal fee is the one to look at. Licensed properties are inspected at least once in the licence period, which is usually five years.
What do I need to apply?
The application asks for your email, mortgage company details, the names and contact details of owners and managing agents, property and room details, details of any other licences you hold, and a fit and proper person declaration. You pay the first part of the fee by card. The council’s application page does not list a fire risk assessment, gas certificate, electrical report or floor plan as an upload, though the licence conditions set separate standards for the property.
What does the licence not cover?
The licence fee covers the council’s licensing work. It does not pay for any fire safety work, and it does not replace the fire risk assessment of the shared parts that the Fire Safety Order requires. The council publishes its own fire safety standards for licensed HMOs, summarised in what Bristol council expects in a licensed HMO. For the cost of an assessment, see our cost guide, which gives typical published prices, not a quote.
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay the whole licence fee up front?
No. The council splits it into two payments: the first when you apply and the second when your application is successful, before the licence is issued.
How long does a Bristol HMO licence last?
Up to five years. The council says licences are issued for a period of up to five years, and that properties are inspected at least once in that time.
My shared house has three tenants. Which licence do I need?
Since 6 August 2024 a house or flat with three or four people from more than one household sharing facilities needs an Additional licence across the whole of Bristol. Five or more needs a Mandatory licence.
Is the fee refunded if my application is refused?
The council’s fees page does not say. Ask the council before you apply.
Do I need a fire risk assessment to apply?
The application page does not list one as a required document. See what the council expects in a licensed HMO for its fire safety standards and the assessment route.
Is licensing the same in Bath?
No. Bath is in a different council area and its scheme works differently. See what an HMO licence costs in Bath.
ENQUIRY
Tell us about your HMO.
HMOs and shared houses across Bristol and Bath: share a few details and we’ll get back to you about an assessment.
Or call 0117 463 7863.
Or email hello@fire-risk-assessment-bristol.co.uk.
BRISTOL & BATH