London · Council licensing
Barnet operates discretionary property licensing. Letting an unlicensed property where a scheme applies risks a civil penalty of up to £30,000 and a rent repayment order — check whether your property is covered below.
Required for any HMO let to 5 or more people forming 2+ households who share facilities. Check the council for the current fee.
IMPORTANT: Despite multiple Cabinet approvals in principle, Barnet does NOT currently operate any selective licensing scheme as of April 2026. Barnet Council has been attempting to introduce selective licensing since 2021 but has been beset by repeated delays. PHASE 1 (originally proposed for the wards of Burnt Oak, Colindale North and Colindale South) was approved in principle by Cabinet in early 2022 following a 2021 consultation. The scheme was originally expected to start in January 2023 but was repeatedly delayed by issues with licensing application software (Idox) and resourcing. As of October 2025, the scheme has STILL not been formally designated or commenced, despite the council's website continuing to indicate it would be signed in 2024. PHASE 2 (proposed for an additional 10 wards: Childs Hill, Cricklewood, Edgware, Edgwarebury, Finchley Church End, Golders Green, Hendon, Mill Hill, West Finchley and West Hendon) was consulted on from 22 February to 22 July 2023 and approved by Cabinet in December 2023, conditional on Phase 1 being implemented and bedded in first. The combined Phase 1+2 scheme would require Secretary of State confirmation due to its size (covering >20% of the borough). London Property Licensing publicly observed in August 2025 that no progress had been made and suggested the council may need to start the entire process again with a fresh evidence base covering 2020-2025. As of April 2026, no selective licence is required anywhere in Barnet — landlords letting single-family or single-household properties only need a licence if the property meets the mandatory HMO threshold (5+ occupants) or the additional HMO threshold (3+ occupants in 2+ households).
No additional licensing scheme is currently in force.
Source: Barnet licensing page →
A valid Gas Safety certificate (annual), an EICR (every 5 years), a valid EPC, a protected deposit, smoke & CO alarms, the Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet, and a current How to Rent guide — plus the new Section 8 possession rules since Section 21 was abolished on 1 May 2026.
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