Additional HMO licensing in Barnet
Yes. Barnet operates an additional HMO licensing scheme. Letting a covered property without a licence risks a civil penalty of up to £40,000 and a rent repayment order of up to two years' rent.
Common questions
Do I need an additional HMO licence in Barnet?
Yes. Barnet operates an additional HMO licensing scheme. Letting a covered property without a licence risks a civil penalty of up to £40,000 and a rent repayment order of up to two years' rent.
Which areas of Barnet does the scheme cover?
Borough-wide, including certain s.257 blocks. Confirm a specific address against the council's own designation map before applying.
When does Barnet's scheme end?
The designation runs until 27 October 2027, unless the council revokes it earlier under section 84 of the Housing Act 2004.
What does the licence cost?
£1,404 up to 5 units. Councils commonly discount for accredited landlords and early applications; confirm the current figure with Barnet before budgeting.
Paid in two parts — one on application, the balance before the licence is issued.
- Renewal up to 5 units for five years: paper £1,236, online £1,112. 10 per cent off Fee 1 for accredited landlords and agents and registered charities
Barnet — Barnet fee schedule, Appendix 8,, read 19 Aug 2026
What the designation says
Barnet operates a borough-wide additional licensing scheme which started on 27 October 2022 and ends on 27 October 2027, or earlier if the council revokes it. It applies to houses in multiple occupation that are not caught by the national mandatory regime, so smaller shared homes need a licence anywhere in the borough. Mandatory HMO licensing continues to apply separately wherever a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households. Fees cover processing the application and monitoring compliance with the licence conditions, and updated HMO licensing fees took effect on 1 January 2026. Because Barnet also runs selective licensing in designated wards, a landlord should establish which scheme catches a given property: a shared house falls under additional or mandatory licensing anywhere in the borough, while an ordinary single-household let needs a selective licence only inside a designated ward.
What this means for a landlord
A licence must be in place before the property is let, not applied for afterwards. Operating unlicensed in a designated area is a criminal offence: a civil penalty of up to £40,000 per offence and a rent repayment order of up to two years' rent. Both maxima apply to conduct on or after 1 May 2026; before that date they were £30,000 and twelve months. Section 21 was abolished on 1 May 2026 and possession now runs through the amended section 8 grounds. Mandatory HMO licensing applies separately and everywhere, wherever a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households.
Information tool, not legal advice. Confirm the position with Barnet before letting.