diff --git a/changelog.d/10885.misc b/changelog.d/10885.misc
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..586a0b3a9670
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/10885.misc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Use direct references to config flags.
diff --git a/synapse/app/homeserver.py b/synapse/app/homeserver.py
index b909f8db8d72..886e291e4c44 100644
--- a/synapse/app/homeserver.py
+++ b/synapse/app/homeserver.py
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ def _configure_named_resource(self, name, compress=False):
                 }
             )
 
-            if self.config.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.LOCAL:
+            if self.config.email.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.LOCAL:
                 from synapse.rest.synapse.client.password_reset import (
                     PasswordResetSubmitTokenResource,
                 )
diff --git a/synapse/config/consent.py b/synapse/config/consent.py
index b05a9bd97f3b..ecc43b08b9fe 100644
--- a/synapse/config/consent.py
+++ b/synapse/config/consent.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 from os import path
+from typing import Optional
 
 from synapse.config import ConfigError
 
@@ -78,8 +79,8 @@ class ConsentConfig(Config):
     def __init__(self, *args):
         super().__init__(*args)
 
-        self.user_consent_version = None
-        self.user_consent_template_dir = None
+        self.user_consent_version: Optional[str] = None
+        self.user_consent_template_dir: Optional[str] = None
         self.user_consent_server_notice_content = None
         self.user_consent_server_notice_to_guests = False
         self.block_events_without_consent_error = None
@@ -94,7 +95,9 @@ def read_config(self, config, **kwargs):
             return
         self.user_consent_version = str(consent_config["version"])
         self.user_consent_template_dir = self.abspath(consent_config["template_dir"])
-        if not path.isdir(self.user_consent_template_dir):
+        if not isinstance(self.user_consent_template_dir, str) or not path.isdir(
+            self.user_consent_template_dir
+        ):
             raise ConfigError(
                 "Could not find template directory '%s'"
                 % (self.user_consent_template_dir,)
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/account_validity.py b/synapse/handlers/account_validity.py
index 4724565ba576..5a5f124ddf2a 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/account_validity.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/account_validity.py
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
         self.send_email_handler = self.hs.get_send_email_handler()
         self.clock = self.hs.get_clock()
 
-        self._app_name = self.hs.config.email_app_name
+        self._app_name = self.hs.config.email.email_app_name
 
         self._account_validity_enabled = (
             hs.config.account_validity.account_validity_enabled
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/appservice.py b/synapse/handlers/appservice.py
index b7213b67a57b..163278708c9e 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/appservice.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/appservice.py
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
         self.scheduler = hs.get_application_service_scheduler()
         self.started_scheduler = False
         self.clock = hs.get_clock()
-        self.notify_appservices = hs.config.notify_appservices
+        self.notify_appservices = hs.config.appservice.notify_appservices
         self.event_sources = hs.get_event_sources()
 
         self.current_max = 0
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/auth.py b/synapse/handlers/auth.py
index bcd4249e09dd..b747f80bc1d2 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/auth.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/auth.py
@@ -210,15 +210,15 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
 
         self.password_providers = [
             PasswordProvider.load(module, config, account_handler)
-            for module, config in hs.config.password_providers
+            for module, config in hs.config.authproviders.password_providers
         ]
 
         logger.info("Extra password_providers: %s", self.password_providers)
 
         self.hs = hs  # FIXME better possibility to access registrationHandler later?
         self.macaroon_gen = hs.get_macaroon_generator()
-        self._password_enabled = hs.config.password_enabled
-        self._password_localdb_enabled = hs.config.password_localdb_enabled
+        self._password_enabled = hs.config.auth.password_enabled
+        self._password_localdb_enabled = hs.config.auth.password_localdb_enabled
 
         # start out by assuming PASSWORD is enabled; we will remove it later if not.
         login_types = set()
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
         )
 
         # The number of seconds to keep a UI auth session active.
-        self._ui_auth_session_timeout = hs.config.ui_auth_session_timeout
+        self._ui_auth_session_timeout = hs.config.auth.ui_auth_session_timeout
 
         # Ratelimitier for failed /login attempts
         self._failed_login_attempts_ratelimiter = Ratelimiter(
@@ -739,19 +739,19 @@ async def _check_auth_dict(
         return canonical_id
 
     def _get_params_recaptcha(self) -> dict:
-        return {"public_key": self.hs.config.recaptcha_public_key}
+        return {"public_key": self.hs.config.captcha.recaptcha_public_key}
 
     def _get_params_terms(self) -> dict:
         return {
             "policies": {
                 "privacy_policy": {
-                    "version": self.hs.config.user_consent_version,
+                    "version": self.hs.config.consent.user_consent_version,
                     "en": {
-                        "name": self.hs.config.user_consent_policy_name,
+                        "name": self.hs.config.consent.user_consent_policy_name,
                         "url": "%s_matrix/consent?v=%s"
                         % (
                             self.hs.config.server.public_baseurl,
-                            self.hs.config.user_consent_version,
+                            self.hs.config.consent.user_consent_version,
                         ),
                     },
                 }
@@ -1016,7 +1016,7 @@ async def _find_user_id_and_pwd_hash(
     def can_change_password(self) -> bool:
         """Get whether users on this server are allowed to change or set a password.
 
-        Both `config.password_enabled` and `config.password_localdb_enabled` must be true.
+        Both `config.auth.password_enabled` and `config.auth.password_localdb_enabled` must be true.
 
         Note that any account (even SSO accounts) are allowed to add passwords if the above
         is true.
@@ -1486,7 +1486,7 @@ def _do_hash() -> str:
             pw = unicodedata.normalize("NFKC", password)
 
             return bcrypt.hashpw(
-                pw.encode("utf8") + self.hs.config.password_pepper.encode("utf8"),
+                pw.encode("utf8") + self.hs.config.auth.password_pepper.encode("utf8"),
                 bcrypt.gensalt(self.bcrypt_rounds),
             ).decode("ascii")
 
@@ -1510,7 +1510,7 @@ def _do_validate_hash(checked_hash: bytes) -> bool:
             pw = unicodedata.normalize("NFKC", password)
 
             return bcrypt.checkpw(
-                pw.encode("utf8") + self.hs.config.password_pepper.encode("utf8"),
+                pw.encode("utf8") + self.hs.config.auth.password_pepper.encode("utf8"),
                 checked_hash,
             )
 
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/cas.py b/synapse/handlers/cas.py
index b0b188dc7847..5d8f6c50a949 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/cas.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/cas.py
@@ -65,10 +65,10 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
         self._auth_handler = hs.get_auth_handler()
         self._registration_handler = hs.get_registration_handler()
 
-        self._cas_server_url = hs.config.cas_server_url
-        self._cas_service_url = hs.config.cas_service_url
-        self._cas_displayname_attribute = hs.config.cas_displayname_attribute
-        self._cas_required_attributes = hs.config.cas_required_attributes
+        self._cas_server_url = hs.config.cas.cas_server_url
+        self._cas_service_url = hs.config.cas.cas_service_url
+        self._cas_displayname_attribute = hs.config.cas.cas_displayname_attribute
+        self._cas_required_attributes = hs.config.cas.cas_required_attributes
 
         self._http_client = hs.get_proxied_http_client()
 
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/identity.py b/synapse/handlers/identity.py
index 8b8f1f41ca3e..fe8a9958924b 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/identity.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/identity.py
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
         self.federation_http_client = hs.get_federation_http_client()
         self.hs = hs
 
-        self._web_client_location = hs.config.invite_client_location
+        self._web_client_location = hs.config.email.invite_client_location
 
         # Ratelimiters for `/requestToken` endpoints.
         self._3pid_validation_ratelimiter_ip = Ratelimiter(
@@ -419,7 +419,7 @@ async def send_threepid_validation(
 
         token_expires = (
             self.hs.get_clock().time_msec()
-            + self.hs.config.email_validation_token_lifetime
+            + self.hs.config.email.email_validation_token_lifetime
         )
 
         await self.store.start_or_continue_validation_session(
@@ -465,7 +465,7 @@ async def requestEmailToken(
         if next_link:
             params["next_link"] = next_link
 
-        if self.hs.config.using_identity_server_from_trusted_list:
+        if self.hs.config.email.using_identity_server_from_trusted_list:
             # Warn that a deprecated config option is in use
             logger.warning(
                 'The config option "trust_identity_server_for_password_resets" '
@@ -518,7 +518,7 @@ async def requestMsisdnToken(
         if next_link:
             params["next_link"] = next_link
 
-        if self.hs.config.using_identity_server_from_trusted_list:
+        if self.hs.config.email.using_identity_server_from_trusted_list:
             # Warn that a deprecated config option is in use
             logger.warning(
                 'The config option "trust_identity_server_for_password_resets" '
@@ -572,12 +572,12 @@ async def validate_threepid_session(
         validation_session = None
 
         # Try to validate as email
-        if self.hs.config.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.REMOTE:
+        if self.hs.config.email.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.REMOTE:
             # Ask our delegated email identity server
             validation_session = await self.threepid_from_creds(
                 self.hs.config.account_threepid_delegate_email, threepid_creds
             )
-        elif self.hs.config.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.LOCAL:
+        elif self.hs.config.email.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.LOCAL:
             # Get a validated session matching these details
             validation_session = await self.store.get_threepid_validation_session(
                 "email", client_secret, sid=sid, validated=True
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/message.py b/synapse/handlers/message.py
index 7a5d8e6f4ed8..ad4e4a3d6f6d 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/message.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/message.py
@@ -443,7 +443,7 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
         )
 
         self._block_events_without_consent_error = (
-            self.config.block_events_without_consent_error
+            self.config.consent.block_events_without_consent_error
         )
 
         # we need to construct a ConsentURIBuilder here, as it checks that the necessary
@@ -744,7 +744,7 @@ async def assert_accepted_privacy_policy(self, requester: Requester) -> None:
         if u["appservice_id"] is not None:
             # users registered by an appservice are exempt
             return
-        if u["consent_version"] == self.config.user_consent_version:
+        if u["consent_version"] == self.config.consent.user_consent_version:
             return
 
         consent_uri = self._consent_uri_builder.build_user_consent_uri(user.localpart)
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/password_policy.py b/synapse/handlers/password_policy.py
index cd21efdcc642..eadd7ced0957 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/password_policy.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/password_policy.py
@@ -27,8 +27,8 @@
 
 class PasswordPolicyHandler:
     def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
-        self.policy = hs.config.password_policy
-        self.enabled = hs.config.password_policy_enabled
+        self.policy = hs.config.auth.password_policy
+        self.enabled = hs.config.auth.password_policy_enabled
 
         # Regexps for the spec'd policy parameters.
         self.regexp_digit = re.compile("[0-9]")
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/register.py b/synapse/handlers/register.py
index 1c195c65dba0..01c5e1385d37 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/register.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/register.py
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
         self.ratelimiter = hs.get_registration_ratelimiter()
         self.macaroon_gen = hs.get_macaroon_generator()
         self._account_validity_handler = hs.get_account_validity_handler()
+        self._user_consent_version = self.hs.config.consent.user_consent_version
         self._server_notices_mxid = hs.config.server_notices_mxid
         self._server_name = hs.hostname
 
@@ -339,7 +340,7 @@ async def register_user(
             auth_provider=(auth_provider_id or ""),
         ).inc()
 
-        if not self.hs.config.user_consent_at_registration:
+        if not self.hs.config.consent.user_consent_at_registration:
             if not self.hs.config.auto_join_rooms_for_guests and make_guest:
                 logger.info(
                     "Skipping auto-join for %s because auto-join for guests is disabled",
@@ -864,7 +865,9 @@ async def post_registration_actions(
             await self._register_msisdn_threepid(user_id, threepid)
 
         if auth_result and LoginType.TERMS in auth_result:
-            await self._on_user_consented(user_id, self.hs.config.user_consent_version)
+            # The terms type should only exist if consent is enabled.
+            assert self._user_consent_version is not None
+            await self._on_user_consented(user_id, self._user_consent_version)
 
     async def _on_user_consented(self, user_id: str, consent_version: str) -> None:
         """A user consented to the terms on registration
@@ -910,8 +913,8 @@ async def _register_email_threepid(
         # getting mail spam where they weren't before if email
         # notifs are set up on a homeserver)
         if (
-            self.hs.config.email_enable_notifs
-            and self.hs.config.email_notif_for_new_users
+            self.hs.config.email.email_enable_notifs
+            and self.hs.config.email.email_notif_for_new_users
             and token
         ):
             # Pull the ID of the access token back out of the db
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/ui_auth/checkers.py b/synapse/handlers/ui_auth/checkers.py
index ea9325e96ae7..8f5d465fa1ce 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/ui_auth/checkers.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/ui_auth/checkers.py
@@ -82,10 +82,10 @@ class RecaptchaAuthChecker(UserInteractiveAuthChecker):
 
     def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
         super().__init__(hs)
-        self._enabled = bool(hs.config.recaptcha_private_key)
+        self._enabled = bool(hs.config.captcha.recaptcha_private_key)
         self._http_client = hs.get_proxied_http_client()
-        self._url = hs.config.recaptcha_siteverify_api
-        self._secret = hs.config.recaptcha_private_key
+        self._url = hs.config.captcha.recaptcha_siteverify_api
+        self._secret = hs.config.captcha.recaptcha_private_key
 
     def is_enabled(self) -> bool:
         return self._enabled
@@ -161,12 +161,17 @@ async def _check_threepid(self, medium: str, authdict: dict) -> dict:
                 self.hs.config.account_threepid_delegate_msisdn, threepid_creds
             )
         elif medium == "email":
-            if self.hs.config.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.REMOTE:
+            if (
+                self.hs.config.email.threepid_behaviour_email
+                == ThreepidBehaviour.REMOTE
+            ):
                 assert self.hs.config.account_threepid_delegate_email
                 threepid = await identity_handler.threepid_from_creds(
                     self.hs.config.account_threepid_delegate_email, threepid_creds
                 )
-            elif self.hs.config.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.LOCAL:
+            elif (
+                self.hs.config.email.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.LOCAL
+            ):
                 threepid = None
                 row = await self.store.get_threepid_validation_session(
                     medium,
@@ -218,7 +223,7 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
         _BaseThreepidAuthChecker.__init__(self, hs)
 
     def is_enabled(self) -> bool:
-        return self.hs.config.threepid_behaviour_email in (
+        return self.hs.config.email.threepid_behaviour_email in (
             ThreepidBehaviour.REMOTE,
             ThreepidBehaviour.LOCAL,
         )
diff --git a/synapse/module_api/__init__.py b/synapse/module_api/__init__.py
index 174e6934a8be..8ae21bc43c23 100644
--- a/synapse/module_api/__init__.py
+++ b/synapse/module_api/__init__.py
@@ -119,14 +119,16 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer", auth_handler):
         self.custom_template_dir = hs.config.server.custom_template_directory
 
         try:
-            app_name = self._hs.config.email_app_name
+            app_name = self._hs.config.email.email_app_name
 
-            self._from_string = self._hs.config.email_notif_from % {"app": app_name}
+            self._from_string = self._hs.config.email.email_notif_from % {
+                "app": app_name
+            }
         except (KeyError, TypeError):
             # If substitution failed (which can happen if the string contains
             # placeholders other than just "app", or if the type of the placeholder is
             # not a string), fall back to the bare strings.
-            self._from_string = self._hs.config.email_notif_from
+            self._from_string = self._hs.config.email.email_notif_from
 
         self._raw_from = email.utils.parseaddr(self._from_string)[1]
 
diff --git a/synapse/push/pusher.py b/synapse/push/pusher.py
index 29ed346d3710..b57e09409159 100644
--- a/synapse/push/pusher.py
+++ b/synapse/push/pusher.py
@@ -77,4 +77,4 @@ def _app_name_from_pusherdict(self, pusher_config: PusherConfig) -> str:
             if isinstance(brand, str):
                 return brand
 
-        return self.config.email_app_name
+        return self.config.email.email_app_name
diff --git a/synapse/rest/admin/users.py b/synapse/rest/admin/users.py
index 681e4918267b..46bfec4623e5 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/admin/users.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/admin/users.py
@@ -368,8 +368,8 @@ async def on_PUT(
                         user_id, medium, address, current_time
                     )
                     if (
-                        self.hs.config.email_enable_notifs
-                        and self.hs.config.email_notif_for_new_users
+                        self.hs.config.email.email_enable_notifs
+                        and self.hs.config.email.email_notif_for_new_users
                     ):
                         await self.pusher_pool.add_pusher(
                             user_id=user_id,
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/account.py b/synapse/rest/client/account.py
index aefaaa8ae8a2..6a7608d60b97 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/account.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/account.py
@@ -64,17 +64,17 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
         self.config = hs.config
         self.identity_handler = hs.get_identity_handler()
 
-        if self.config.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.LOCAL:
+        if self.config.email.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.LOCAL:
             self.mailer = Mailer(
                 hs=self.hs,
-                app_name=self.config.email_app_name,
-                template_html=self.config.email_password_reset_template_html,
-                template_text=self.config.email_password_reset_template_text,
+                app_name=self.config.email.email_app_name,
+                template_html=self.config.email.email_password_reset_template_html,
+                template_text=self.config.email.email_password_reset_template_text,
             )
 
     async def on_POST(self, request: SynapseRequest) -> Tuple[int, JsonDict]:
-        if self.config.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.OFF:
-            if self.config.local_threepid_handling_disabled_due_to_email_config:
+        if self.config.email.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.OFF:
+            if self.config.email.local_threepid_handling_disabled_due_to_email_config:
                 logger.warning(
                     "User password resets have been disabled due to lack of email config"
                 )
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ async def on_POST(self, request: SynapseRequest) -> Tuple[int, JsonDict]:
 
             raise SynapseError(400, "Email not found", Codes.THREEPID_NOT_FOUND)
 
-        if self.config.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.REMOTE:
+        if self.config.email.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.REMOTE:
             assert self.hs.config.account_threepid_delegate_email
 
             # Have the configured identity server handle the request
@@ -349,17 +349,17 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
         self.identity_handler = hs.get_identity_handler()
         self.store = self.hs.get_datastore()
 
-        if self.config.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.LOCAL:
+        if self.config.email.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.LOCAL:
             self.mailer = Mailer(
                 hs=self.hs,
-                app_name=self.config.email_app_name,
-                template_html=self.config.email_add_threepid_template_html,
-                template_text=self.config.email_add_threepid_template_text,
+                app_name=self.config.email.email_app_name,
+                template_html=self.config.email.email_add_threepid_template_html,
+                template_text=self.config.email.email_add_threepid_template_text,
             )
 
     async def on_POST(self, request: SynapseRequest) -> Tuple[int, JsonDict]:
-        if self.config.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.OFF:
-            if self.config.local_threepid_handling_disabled_due_to_email_config:
+        if self.config.email.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.OFF:
+            if self.config.email.local_threepid_handling_disabled_due_to_email_config:
                 logger.warning(
                     "Adding emails have been disabled due to lack of an email config"
                 )
@@ -413,7 +413,7 @@ async def on_POST(self, request: SynapseRequest) -> Tuple[int, JsonDict]:
 
             raise SynapseError(400, "Email is already in use", Codes.THREEPID_IN_USE)
 
-        if self.config.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.REMOTE:
+        if self.config.email.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.REMOTE:
             assert self.hs.config.account_threepid_delegate_email
 
             # Have the configured identity server handle the request
@@ -534,21 +534,21 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
         self.config = hs.config
         self.clock = hs.get_clock()
         self.store = hs.get_datastore()
-        if self.config.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.LOCAL:
+        if self.config.email.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.LOCAL:
             self._failure_email_template = (
-                self.config.email_add_threepid_template_failure_html
+                self.config.email.email_add_threepid_template_failure_html
             )
 
     async def on_GET(self, request: Request) -> None:
-        if self.config.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.OFF:
-            if self.config.local_threepid_handling_disabled_due_to_email_config:
+        if self.config.email.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.OFF:
+            if self.config.email.local_threepid_handling_disabled_due_to_email_config:
                 logger.warning(
                     "Adding emails have been disabled due to lack of an email config"
                 )
             raise SynapseError(
                 400, "Adding an email to your account is disabled on this server"
             )
-        elif self.config.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.REMOTE:
+        elif self.config.email.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.REMOTE:
             raise SynapseError(
                 400,
                 "This homeserver is not validating threepids. Use an identity server "
@@ -575,7 +575,7 @@ async def on_GET(self, request: Request) -> None:
                 return None
 
             # Otherwise show the success template
-            html = self.config.email_add_threepid_template_success_html_content
+            html = self.config.email.email_add_threepid_template_success_html_content
             status_code = 200
         except ThreepidValidationError as e:
             status_code = e.code
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/auth.py b/synapse/rest/client/auth.py
index 7bb780147267..282861fae21f 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/auth.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/auth.py
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
         self.auth = hs.get_auth()
         self.auth_handler = hs.get_auth_handler()
         self.registration_handler = hs.get_registration_handler()
-        self.recaptcha_template = hs.config.recaptcha_template
+        self.recaptcha_template = hs.config.captcha.recaptcha_template
         self.terms_template = hs.config.terms_template
         self.registration_token_template = hs.config.registration_token_template
         self.success_template = hs.config.fallback_success_template
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ async def on_GET(self, request: SynapseRequest, stagetype: str) -> None:
                 session=session,
                 myurl="%s/r0/auth/%s/fallback/web"
                 % (CLIENT_API_PREFIX, LoginType.RECAPTCHA),
-                sitekey=self.hs.config.recaptcha_public_key,
+                sitekey=self.hs.config.captcha.recaptcha_public_key,
             )
         elif stagetype == LoginType.TERMS:
             html = self.terms_template.render(
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ async def on_GET(self, request: SynapseRequest, stagetype: str) -> None:
                 terms_url="%s_matrix/consent?v=%s"
                 % (
                     self.hs.config.server.public_baseurl,
-                    self.hs.config.user_consent_version,
+                    self.hs.config.consent.user_consent_version,
                 ),
                 myurl="%s/r0/auth/%s/fallback/web"
                 % (CLIENT_API_PREFIX, LoginType.TERMS),
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ async def on_POST(self, request: Request, stagetype: str) -> None:
                     session=session,
                     myurl="%s/r0/auth/%s/fallback/web"
                     % (CLIENT_API_PREFIX, LoginType.RECAPTCHA),
-                    sitekey=self.hs.config.recaptcha_public_key,
+                    sitekey=self.hs.config.captcha.recaptcha_public_key,
                     error=e.msg,
                 )
             else:
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ async def on_POST(self, request: Request, stagetype: str) -> None:
                     terms_url="%s_matrix/consent?v=%s"
                     % (
                         self.hs.config.server.public_baseurl,
-                        self.hs.config.user_consent_version,
+                        self.hs.config.consent.user_consent_version,
                     ),
                     myurl="%s/r0/auth/%s/fallback/web"
                     % (CLIENT_API_PREFIX, LoginType.TERMS),
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/login.py b/synapse/rest/client/login.py
index a6ede7e2f3c1..d766e98dceb3 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/login.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/login.py
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
 
         # SSO configuration.
         self.saml2_enabled = hs.config.saml2_enabled
-        self.cas_enabled = hs.config.cas_enabled
+        self.cas_enabled = hs.config.cas.cas_enabled
         self.oidc_enabled = hs.config.oidc_enabled
         self._msc2918_enabled = hs.config.access_token_lifetime is not None
 
@@ -559,7 +559,7 @@ def register_servlets(hs: "HomeServer", http_server: HttpServer) -> None:
     if hs.config.access_token_lifetime is not None:
         RefreshTokenServlet(hs).register(http_server)
     SsoRedirectServlet(hs).register(http_server)
-    if hs.config.cas_enabled:
+    if hs.config.cas.cas_enabled:
         CasTicketServlet(hs).register(http_server)
 
 
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/password_policy.py b/synapse/rest/client/password_policy.py
index 0465fd2292e3..9f1908004b9d 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/password_policy.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/password_policy.py
@@ -35,8 +35,8 @@ class PasswordPolicyServlet(RestServlet):
     def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
         super().__init__()
 
-        self.policy = hs.config.password_policy
-        self.enabled = hs.config.password_policy_enabled
+        self.policy = hs.config.auth.password_policy
+        self.enabled = hs.config.auth.password_policy_enabled
 
     def on_GET(self, request: Request) -> Tuple[int, JsonDict]:
         if not self.enabled or not self.policy:
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/register.py b/synapse/rest/client/register.py
index abe4d7e20512..48b0062cf434 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/register.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/register.py
@@ -75,17 +75,19 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
         self.identity_handler = hs.get_identity_handler()
         self.config = hs.config
 
-        if self.hs.config.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.LOCAL:
+        if self.hs.config.email.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.LOCAL:
             self.mailer = Mailer(
                 hs=self.hs,
-                app_name=self.config.email_app_name,
-                template_html=self.config.email_registration_template_html,
-                template_text=self.config.email_registration_template_text,
+                app_name=self.config.email.email_app_name,
+                template_html=self.config.email.email_registration_template_html,
+                template_text=self.config.email.email_registration_template_text,
             )
 
     async def on_POST(self, request: SynapseRequest) -> Tuple[int, JsonDict]:
-        if self.hs.config.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.OFF:
-            if self.hs.config.local_threepid_handling_disabled_due_to_email_config:
+        if self.hs.config.email.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.OFF:
+            if (
+                self.hs.config.email.local_threepid_handling_disabled_due_to_email_config
+            ):
                 logger.warning(
                     "Email registration has been disabled due to lack of email config"
                 )
@@ -137,7 +139,7 @@ async def on_POST(self, request: SynapseRequest) -> Tuple[int, JsonDict]:
 
             raise SynapseError(400, "Email is already in use", Codes.THREEPID_IN_USE)
 
-        if self.config.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.REMOTE:
+        if self.config.email.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.REMOTE:
             assert self.hs.config.account_threepid_delegate_email
 
             # Have the configured identity server handle the request
@@ -259,9 +261,9 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
         self.clock = hs.get_clock()
         self.store = hs.get_datastore()
 
-        if self.config.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.LOCAL:
+        if self.config.email.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.LOCAL:
             self._failure_email_template = (
-                self.config.email_registration_template_failure_html
+                self.config.email.email_registration_template_failure_html
             )
 
     async def on_GET(self, request: Request, medium: str) -> None:
@@ -269,8 +271,8 @@ async def on_GET(self, request: Request, medium: str) -> None:
             raise SynapseError(
                 400, "This medium is currently not supported for registration"
             )
-        if self.config.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.OFF:
-            if self.config.local_threepid_handling_disabled_due_to_email_config:
+        if self.config.email.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.OFF:
+            if self.config.email.local_threepid_handling_disabled_due_to_email_config:
                 logger.warning(
                     "User registration via email has been disabled due to lack of email config"
                 )
@@ -303,7 +305,7 @@ async def on_GET(self, request: Request, medium: str) -> None:
                     return None
 
             # Otherwise show the success template
-            html = self.config.email_registration_template_success_html_content
+            html = self.config.email.email_registration_template_success_html_content
             status_code = 200
         except ThreepidValidationError as e:
             status_code = e.code
@@ -897,12 +899,12 @@ def _calculate_registration_flows(
         flows.append([LoginType.MSISDN, LoginType.EMAIL_IDENTITY])
 
     # Prepend m.login.terms to all flows if we're requiring consent
-    if config.user_consent_at_registration:
+    if config.consent.user_consent_at_registration:
         for flow in flows:
             flow.insert(0, LoginType.TERMS)
 
     # Prepend recaptcha to all flows if we're requiring captcha
-    if config.enable_registration_captcha:
+    if config.captcha.enable_registration_captcha:
         for flow in flows:
             flow.insert(0, LoginType.RECAPTCHA)
 
diff --git a/synapse/rest/consent/consent_resource.py b/synapse/rest/consent/consent_resource.py
index 06e0fbde224e..fc634a492d83 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/consent/consent_resource.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/consent/consent_resource.py
@@ -84,14 +84,15 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
         # this is required by the request_handler wrapper
         self.clock = hs.get_clock()
 
-        self._default_consent_version = hs.config.user_consent_version
-        if self._default_consent_version is None:
+        # Consent must be configured to create this resource.
+        default_consent_version = hs.config.consent.user_consent_version
+        consent_template_directory = hs.config.consent.user_consent_template_dir
+        if default_consent_version is None or consent_template_directory is None:
             raise ConfigError(
                 "Consent resource is enabled but user_consent section is "
                 "missing in config file."
             )
-
-        consent_template_directory = hs.config.user_consent_template_dir
+        self._default_consent_version = default_consent_version
 
         # TODO: switch to synapse.util.templates.build_jinja_env
         loader = jinja2.FileSystemLoader(consent_template_directory)
diff --git a/synapse/rest/synapse/client/password_reset.py b/synapse/rest/synapse/client/password_reset.py
index f2800bf2db1d..28a67f04e33f 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/synapse/client/password_reset.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/synapse/client/password_reset.py
@@ -47,20 +47,20 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
         self.store = hs.get_datastore()
 
         self._local_threepid_handling_disabled_due_to_email_config = (
-            hs.config.local_threepid_handling_disabled_due_to_email_config
+            hs.config.email.local_threepid_handling_disabled_due_to_email_config
         )
         self._confirmation_email_template = (
-            hs.config.email_password_reset_template_confirmation_html
+            hs.config.email.email_password_reset_template_confirmation_html
         )
         self._email_password_reset_template_success_html = (
-            hs.config.email_password_reset_template_success_html_content
+            hs.config.email.email_password_reset_template_success_html_content
         )
         self._failure_email_template = (
-            hs.config.email_password_reset_template_failure_html
+            hs.config.email.email_password_reset_template_failure_html
         )
 
         # This resource should not be mounted if threepid behaviour is not LOCAL
-        assert hs.config.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.LOCAL
+        assert hs.config.email.threepid_behaviour_email == ThreepidBehaviour.LOCAL
 
     async def _async_render_GET(self, request: Request) -> Tuple[int, bytes]:
         sid = parse_string(request, "sid", required=True)
diff --git a/synapse/server_notices/consent_server_notices.py b/synapse/server_notices/consent_server_notices.py
index 4e0f814035b3..e09a25591feb 100644
--- a/synapse/server_notices/consent_server_notices.py
+++ b/synapse/server_notices/consent_server_notices.py
@@ -36,9 +36,11 @@ def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
 
         self._users_in_progress: Set[str] = set()
 
-        self._current_consent_version = hs.config.user_consent_version
-        self._server_notice_content = hs.config.user_consent_server_notice_content
-        self._send_to_guests = hs.config.user_consent_server_notice_to_guests
+        self._current_consent_version = hs.config.consent.user_consent_version
+        self._server_notice_content = (
+            hs.config.consent.user_consent_server_notice_content
+        )
+        self._send_to_guests = hs.config.consent.user_consent_server_notice_to_guests
 
         if self._server_notice_content is not None:
             if not self._server_notices_manager.is_enabled():
@@ -63,6 +65,9 @@ async def maybe_send_server_notice_to_user(self, user_id: str) -> None:
             # not enabled
             return
 
+        # A consent version must be given.
+        assert self._current_consent_version is not None
+
         # make sure we don't send two messages to the same user at once
         if user_id in self._users_in_progress:
             return
diff --git a/synapse/storage/databases/main/appservice.py b/synapse/storage/databases/main/appservice.py
index e2d1b758bddc..2da2659f417e 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/databases/main/appservice.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/databases/main/appservice.py
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ def _make_exclusive_regex(
 class ApplicationServiceWorkerStore(SQLBaseStore):
     def __init__(self, database: DatabasePool, db_conn: Connection, hs: "HomeServer"):
         self.services_cache = load_appservices(
-            hs.hostname, hs.config.app_service_config_files
+            hs.hostname, hs.config.appservice.app_service_config_files
         )
         self.exclusive_user_regex = _make_exclusive_regex(self.services_cache)
 
diff --git a/synapse/storage/databases/main/monthly_active_users.py b/synapse/storage/databases/main/monthly_active_users.py
index d213b2670364..b76ee51a9b46 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/databases/main/monthly_active_users.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/databases/main/monthly_active_users.py
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ async def get_monthly_active_count_by_service(self) -> Dict[str, int]:
         """Generates current count of monthly active users broken down by service.
         A service is typically an appservice but also includes native matrix users.
         Since the `monthly_active_users` table is populated from the `user_ips` table
-        `config.track_appservice_user_ips` must be set to `true` for this
+        `config.appservice.track_appservice_user_ips` must be set to `true` for this
         method to return anything other than native matrix users.
 
         Returns:
diff --git a/synapse/storage/databases/main/registration.py b/synapse/storage/databases/main/registration.py
index fafadb88fcfe..52ef9deede80 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/databases/main/registration.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/databases/main/registration.py
@@ -388,7 +388,7 @@ def select_users_txn(txn, now_ms, renew_at):
             "get_users_expiring_soon",
             select_users_txn,
             self._clock.time_msec(),
-            self.config.account_validity_renew_at,
+            self.config.account_validity.account_validity_renew_at,
         )
 
     async def set_renewal_mail_status(self, user_id: str, email_sent: bool) -> None:
diff --git a/synapse/storage/prepare_database.py b/synapse/storage/prepare_database.py
index d4754c904c93..f31880b8ec93 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/prepare_database.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/prepare_database.py
@@ -545,7 +545,7 @@ def _apply_module_schemas(
         database_engine:
         config: application config
     """
-    for (mod, _config) in config.password_providers:
+    for (mod, _config) in config.authproviders.password_providers:
         if not hasattr(mod, "get_db_schema_files"):
             continue
         modname = ".".join((mod.__module__, mod.__name__))
diff --git a/synapse/storage/schema/main/delta/30/as_users.py b/synapse/storage/schema/main/delta/30/as_users.py
index 8a1f340083bf..22a7901e15df 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/schema/main/delta/30/as_users.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/schema/main/delta/30/as_users.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ def run_upgrade(cur, database_engine, config, *args, **kwargs):
 
     config_files = []
     try:
-        config_files = config.app_service_config_files
+        config_files = config.appservice.app_service_config_files
     except AttributeError:
         logger.warning("Could not get app_service_config_files from config")
         pass
diff --git a/tests/rest/admin/test_room.py b/tests/rest/admin/test_room.py
index e798513ac1c9..0fa55e03b45b 100644
--- a/tests/rest/admin/test_room.py
+++ b/tests/rest/admin/test_room.py
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ class DeleteRoomTestCase(unittest.HomeserverTestCase):
 
     def prepare(self, reactor, clock, hs):
         self.event_creation_handler = hs.get_event_creation_handler()
-        hs.config.user_consent_version = "1"
+        hs.config.consent.user_consent_version = "1"
 
         consent_uri_builder = Mock()
         consent_uri_builder.build_user_consent_uri.return_value = "http://example.com"
diff --git a/tests/rest/client/test_login.py b/tests/rest/client/test_login.py
index f5c195a075bd..414c8781a989 100644
--- a/tests/rest/client/test_login.py
+++ b/tests/rest/client/test_login.py
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ def make_homeserver(self, reactor, clock):
         self.hs.config.enable_registration = True
         self.hs.config.registrations_require_3pid = []
         self.hs.config.auto_join_rooms = []
-        self.hs.config.enable_registration_captcha = False
+        self.hs.config.captcha.enable_registration_captcha = False
 
         return self.hs
 
diff --git a/tests/storage/test_appservice.py b/tests/storage/test_appservice.py
index 666bffe2574f..ebadf479480a 100644
--- a/tests/storage/test_appservice.py
+++ b/tests/storage/test_appservice.py
@@ -41,9 +41,8 @@ def setUp(self):
             self.addCleanup, federation_sender=Mock(), federation_client=Mock()
         )
 
-        hs.config.app_service_config_files = self.as_yaml_files
+        hs.config.appservice.app_service_config_files = self.as_yaml_files
         hs.config.caches.event_cache_size = 1
-        hs.config.password_providers = []
 
         self.as_token = "token1"
         self.as_url = "some_url"
@@ -108,9 +107,8 @@ def setUp(self):
             self.addCleanup, federation_sender=Mock(), federation_client=Mock()
         )
 
-        hs.config.app_service_config_files = self.as_yaml_files
+        hs.config.appservice.app_service_config_files = self.as_yaml_files
         hs.config.caches.event_cache_size = 1
-        hs.config.password_providers = []
 
         self.as_list = [
             {"token": "token1", "url": "https://matrix-as.org", "id": "id_1"},
@@ -496,9 +494,8 @@ def test_unique_works(self):
             self.addCleanup, federation_sender=Mock(), federation_client=Mock()
         )
 
-        hs.config.app_service_config_files = [f1, f2]
+        hs.config.appservice.app_service_config_files = [f1, f2]
         hs.config.caches.event_cache_size = 1
-        hs.config.password_providers = []
 
         database = hs.get_datastores().databases[0]
         ApplicationServiceStore(
@@ -514,7 +511,7 @@ def test_duplicate_ids(self):
             self.addCleanup, federation_sender=Mock(), federation_client=Mock()
         )
 
-        hs.config.app_service_config_files = [f1, f2]
+        hs.config.appservice.app_service_config_files = [f1, f2]
         hs.config.caches.event_cache_size = 1
         hs.config.password_providers = []
 
@@ -540,9 +537,8 @@ def test_duplicate_as_tokens(self):
             self.addCleanup, federation_sender=Mock(), federation_client=Mock()
         )
 
-        hs.config.app_service_config_files = [f1, f2]
+        hs.config.appservice.app_service_config_files = [f1, f2]
         hs.config.caches.event_cache_size = 1
-        hs.config.password_providers = []
 
         with self.assertRaises(ConfigError) as cm:
             database = hs.get_datastores().databases[0]
diff --git a/tests/storage/test_cleanup_extrems.py b/tests/storage/test_cleanup_extrems.py
index da98733ce8e6..7cc5e621ba9a 100644
--- a/tests/storage/test_cleanup_extrems.py
+++ b/tests/storage/test_cleanup_extrems.py
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ def prepare(self, reactor, clock, homeserver):
         info, _ = self.get_success(self.room_creator.create_room(self.requester, {}))
         self.room_id = info["room_id"]
         self.event_creator = homeserver.get_event_creation_handler()
-        homeserver.config.user_consent_version = self.CONSENT_VERSION
+        homeserver.config.consent.user_consent_version = self.CONSENT_VERSION
 
     def test_send_dummy_event(self):
         self._create_extremity_rich_graph()