Additional HMO licensing in Brent
Yes. Brent 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 Brent?
Yes. Brent 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 Brent does the scheme cover?
Borough-wide, including s.257 HMOs. Designation 3/2025, confirmed by Cabinet 13 October 2025. Confirm a specific address against the council's own designation map before applying.
When does Brent's scheme end?
The designation runs until 1 February 2031, unless the council revokes it earlier under section 84 of the Housing Act 2004.
What does the licence cost?
£1,040. Councils commonly discount for accredited landlords and early applications; confirm the current figure with Brent before budgeting.
Paid in two parts — one on application, the balance before the licence is issued.
| Part 1 | £540 |
| Part 2 | £500 |
| Total | £1,040 |
- Discount
- Renewal £940 (£500+£440)
Brent, read 28 August 2026
What the designation says
Brent operates a borough-wide additional licensing scheme, which came into force on 2 February 2026. The council began accepting applications on 17 November 2025. A licence is required for any house in multiple occupation let to three or four people forming two or more households who share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet, which brings smaller shared houses within licensing below the five-occupant threshold of the mandatory regime. The designation also covers section 257 HMOs, which are converted blocks of flats where the conversion did not meet the Building Regulations in force at the time, and HMOs within purpose-built blocks of three or more self-contained flats. The published application fee is £840, taken in two parts: £540 on application, which is not refundable, and £300 on grant. Because Brent also runs near borough-wide selective licensing, a landlord should establish which of the two schemes catches a given property before applying.
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 Brent before letting.