Landlord licensing in Ealing

Required for any HMO let to 5 or more people forming 2+ households who share facilities.

Fee: £1,500

SCHEME OVERVIEW: Ealing operates TWO selective licensing scheme designations covering different sets of wards. (A) SELECTIVE SCHEME 1: Came into force on 1 April 2022 and runs until 31 March 2027 (5-year designation). Notice of Designation under section 80 of the Housing Act 2004. Covers the wards of EAST ACTON, SOUTHALL BROADWAY, and SOUTHALL GREEN (based on pre-May 2022 ward boundaries). These wards were chosen because evidence shows a large proportion of private rented properties have poor property conditions and standards. (B) SELECTIVE SCHEME 2: Came into force on 3 January 2023 and runs until 2 January 2028 (5-year designation). Following Secretary of State approval. Covers 12 additional wards (based on pre-May 2022 ward boundaries): ACTON CENTRAL, DORMERS WELLS, GREENFORD BROADWAY, GREENFORD GREEN, HANGER HILL, HOBBAYNE, LADY MARGARET, NORTH GREENFORD, NORTHOLT MANDEVILLE, NORTHOLT WEST END, PERIVALE, and SOUTH ACTON (source: kammadata.com/uk-property-guide/property-licensing-guide-for-ealing and lpl.bumblebeedesign.co.uk/ealing). WHO NEEDS A LICENCE: Within either designated area, properties (house or flat) let to a single household or two unrelated sharers require a Selective Licence. Selective licences are also needed for HMOs in these areas that do NOT fall within mandatory or additional licensing schemes. CRITICAL: Ealing uses pre-May 2022 ward boundaries for licensing purposes. Use the postcode search facility on ealing.gov.uk to check whether a specific property is within either selective scheme — most landlords/tenants/agents will not be familiar with the ward boundaries. FEES: Selective licensing £750 per property (current as of June 2025). Discounts: 10% if licensing 2+ flats in same building; £75 if licence holder/designated manager belongs to an approved accreditation scheme; £50 for properties with EPC rating A-C. Two-part structure. Landlords who applied for a Designation 2 selective licence between 3 January and 3 April 2023 were eligible for a 25% early-bird discount. LICENCE CONDITIONS: Health and safety, fire precautions, gas/electrical safety certificates, structural condition, anti-social behaviour management, written tenancy agreements, fit and proper person test for licence holder. Properties subject to inspection. ENFORCEMENT: Same as additional licensing — civil penalty up to £30,000, unlimited fine on conviction, RROs, Section 21 invalid. CONTACT: ealing.gov.uk online application portal with postcode checker. Mandatory HMO £1,500 + £50 per habitable room for comparison.

Fee: £750

Scheme runs until: 30 September 2028

SCHEME OVERVIEW: London Borough of Ealing operates a BOROUGH-WIDE Additional HMO Licensing Scheme that came into force on 1 April 2022 and runs until 31 March 2027 (5-year designation). Decision made at Cabinet Meeting 8 December 2021 following public consultation 10 May to 16 August 2021 (source: londonpropertylicensing.co.uk/ealing and kammadata.com/uk-property-guide/property-licensing-guide-for-ealing). LEGAL BASIS: Notice of Designation under section 56 of the Housing Act 2004. WHO NEEDS A LICENCE: All HMOs in Ealing borough that are NOT already licensable under the national mandatory HMO licensing scheme. Specifically: - HMOs occupied by 3 or 4 unrelated people forming 2 or more households sharing facilities (kitchen, bathroom) - All HMOs in buildings with mixed commercial and residential use - Section 257 HMOs (buildings converted into self-contained flats) — RESTRICTED to buildings containing 3 or more flats where all flats are privately rented and the building and all flats within it are in the same ownership/control or considered by the council to be effectively under the same control FEES: Additional licensing £1,300 per property + £50 per habitable room (current as of June 2025). Discounts: 10% if licensing 2+ flats in same building; £75 if licence holder/designated manager belongs to an approved accreditation scheme (LLAS, NRLA); £50 for properties with EPC rating A-C. Two-part structure (Part A on application, Part B before issuance). Incomplete applications rejected after 14 days. Fees are non-refundable. LICENCE CONDITIONS: Fire safety measures, kitchen/bathroom facilities standards, damp/mould/structural safety, gas safety (annual certificate), electrical safety (5-year EICR), waste disposal, written tenancy agreements, anti-social behaviour management. Properties subject to health & safety inspections. ARTICLE 4 DIRECTION: An immediate HMO Article 4 Direction covering Perivale ward came into force on 30 October 2024 and was confirmed on 11 April 2025. A non-immediate HMO Article 4 Direction covering most of the borough was made the same day. In Perivale ward, planning permission is now required for change of use from C3 (single-family) to C4 (small HMO 3-6 unrelated residents). Decision made at Planning Committee 4 September 2024 (source: londonpropertylicensing.co.uk/ealing). LANDLORD ACCREDITATION: By January 2025 there were 2,670 LLAS-accredited landlords in Ealing — second highest of all London boroughs. ENFORCEMENT: Civil financial penalty up to £30,000 per offence. Unlimited fine on conviction. RROs up to 12 months (24 months under Renters' Rights Act 2025). Section 21 invalid where unlicensed. Minimum enforcement notice fine ~£454.50. CONTACT: ealing.gov.uk online application portal with postcode checker.

Fee: £1,300