HMO licence fee in Birmingham — what a 5-bed HMO costs to licence
Fee checked at the council's own page/PDF on 2026-10-12
New licence — baseline 5-bed / 5-letting HMO
£1,125
Renewal: £1,125 · Typical licence length: Up to 5 years (national maximum) · Fee basis: two-part (banded by occupants)
How the Birmingham fee is charged
Online applications: 5 persons Part A £420 + Part B £705 = £1,125; 6-11 persons £1,215; 12+ persons £1,300. New and renewal identical. Fees in force from 31 March 2022 (schedule title 'HMO Fees 2022 to 2023', still the schedule linked from the live apply page).
Freshness caveat: Fee schedule dates from 2022; council may have approved a newer schedule not linked from the apply page. Flag for re-check.
The exact wording on the source
“HMO Occupants 5 Persons: Part A application fee £420, Part B licence fee £705, Total £1125; 6 to 11 Persons £1215; 12+ Persons £1300. ... approved ... took effect from 31 March 2022.”
Birmingham licensing at a glance
| Metric (LAHS 2024/25, MHCLG) | Count |
|---|---|
| Estimated HMOs in Birmingham | 11,933 |
| Estimated mandatory-licensable HMOs | 4,000 |
| Mandatory licences issued (2024/25) | 2,437 |
| England-wide HMO count rank | #4 |
- Additional HMO licensing: yes — this council runs extra designated areas beyond the national mandatory scheme.
Do you need a licence at all?
A licence is required for a large HMO: rented to 5+ people forming more than 1 household, sharing toilet/bathroom/kitchen, at least 1 tenant paying rent. Licence valid max 5 years; separate licence per HMO. (GOV.UK, checked 2026-10-12)