Additional HMO licensing in Hounslow

What the designation says

Hounslow operates a borough-wide additional licensing scheme that came into force on 11 December 2025 and runs for five years. It covers every ward in the borough. A licence is required for any house in multiple occupation let to three or more people forming two or more households who share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet, which brings smaller shared houses within licensing well below the five-occupant threshold of the mandatory regime. The designation also captures section 257 HMOs — certain converted blocks of flats where the conversion did not meet the Building Regulations in force at the time and fewer than two thirds of the flats are owner-occupied. The published fee is £1,550 per property plus £25 for each household, with a £95 reduction for accredited landlords. Letting a licensable HMO without a licence carries a civil penalty of up to £30,000 or prosecution, and exposes the landlord to a rent repayment order for up to twelve months of rent.

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 £30,000 per offence, a rent repayment order of up to twelve months' rent, and a section 21 notice that cannot be served while the property is unlicensed. Mandatory HMO licensing applies separately and everywhere, wherever a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households.

Hounslow's own licensing page →