HMO licence fee in Lewisham — 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
£2,500
Renewal: £2,500 · Typical licence length: Up to 5 years (national maximum) · Fee basis: per lettable unit (two-part)
How the Lewisham fee is charged
Fee is per lettable unit: Part 1 £250 + Part 2 £250 = £500 per unit standard (early-bird/accredited £250+£150=£400 per unit). Baseline 5-unit HMO = £2,500. Mandatory and Lewisham Additional fee structure identical.
The exact wording on the source
“The fee structure for both the National Mandatory and Lewisham Additional licence applications are the same. The fees stated below are per lettable unit ... Standard fee £250 £250 Early bird application £250 £150 Accredited landlord £250 £150.”
Lewisham licensing at a glance
| Metric (LAHS 2024/25, MHCLG) | Count |
|---|---|
| Estimated HMOs in Lewisham | 6,000 |
| Estimated mandatory-licensable HMOs | 1,000 |
| Mandatory licences issued (2024/25) | 536 |
| England-wide HMO count rank | #16 |
- 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)