London · Council licensing
Hillingdon 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.
No selective licensing scheme is currently in force.
Hillingdon Council has approved a borough-wide additional HMO licensing scheme. Cabinet decision made 19 February 2026 following 10-week consultation (31 October 2025 to 11 January 2026, 80% of respondents in support). The designation was made on 19 February 2026 and comes into force on 24 August 2026 (after the statutory 3-month notice period). It will run for 5 years until 23 August 2031 unless revoked earlier. Applies to all HMOs occupied by 3 or more persons forming 2 or more households that fall outside mandatory HMO licensing - includes shared houses, shared flats and bedsit HMOs occupied by 3 or 4 people. Section 257 HMOs are EXCLUDED from this scheme. Licence fee: £1,401 for a 5-year licence, with a 10% discount for accredited landlords. Applications open 20 May 2026. Full compliance required by 23 August 2026; enforcement begins 24 August 2026. Approximately 2,000 unregistered HMOs estimated in the borough. The scheme works alongside the borough-wide Article 4 Direction introduced December 2025.
Areas: Additional HMO licence scheme mentioned but specific areas not detailed in this content
Scheme runs until: 23 August 2031
Source: Hillingdon 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.
Check your Hillingdon property in 30 seconds
Free, no signup — see exactly what applies to your property, then let Landlord HQ track every deadline for £4.99/mo.