Brent HMO Licence: Mandatory and Additional Schemes for Shared Properties

Two HMO Schemes Side by Side

Since 2 February 2026, Brent Council runs both a mandatory and an additional HMO licensing scheme. Between them, they cover shared rented properties that meet HMO licensing thresholds, regardless of which ward they sit in.

Mandatory HMO licensing is the national scheme under Part 2 of the Housing Act 2004. It applies to properties with five or more occupants from two or more households sharing amenities like a kitchen or bathroom. It covers all 22 wards and has no expiry date.

Additional HMO licensing is Brent's local scheme under section 56 of the Housing Act 2004. It covers properties with three or four occupants from two or more households, plus section 257 converted buildings (where the conversion did not meet the Building Regulations at the time) and purpose-built HMO flats. It applies borough-wide and runs until 1 February 2031.

The Three-Sharer Threshold

Before February 2026, a flat shared by three unrelated tenants in many Brent wards needed only a selective licence. That changed when the additional HMO scheme launched. Now, three unrelated people sharing a kitchen or bathroom triggers an additional HMO licence — even in Wembley Park, which is exempt from selective licensing.

The distinction matters financially. A selective licence costs £640. An additional HMO licence costs £1,040. And the documentation requirements are heavier: HMO applications need scaled floor plans with room measurements in square metres, a fire risk assessment, and proof that each bedroom meets the statutory minimum size standards.

The Mandatory vs. Additional Decision

Count the occupants and households:

• Five or more people from two or more households sharing basic amenities → mandatory HMO licence
• Three or four people from two or more households sharing basic amenities → additional HMO licence
• If either threshold is met, selective licensing does not apply — the HMO licence displaces it

The storey test was abolished by the 2018 Prescribed Description Order, so a ground-floor flat with five sharers from different households needs a mandatory HMO licence just as much as a three-storey Victorian house.

Fees and Payment

Both schemes share the same fee structure:

• New application: £540 (Part A) + £500 (Part B) = £1,040
• Renewal: £500 (Part A) + £440 (Part B) = £940
• Mandatory HMO adds £25 per habitable room above five

Part A is non-refundable and paid at submission. Part B must be paid within 28 days of the council's notice of intention to grant the licence. Missing the Part B deadline cancels the application without refund.

LLAS-accredited landlords receive a £40 discount.

What the Application Requires

Beyond the online portal account and fit-and-proper-person declarations, HMO applicants must upload:

• Gas Safety Certificate (annual, must be current at submission)
• EICR (every five years, satisfactory rating)
• EPC (rated A–E, or a registered exemption)
• Scaled floor plans showing room uses, net floor areas and ceiling heights
• Fire safety documentation including a written fire risk assessment

The complete step-by-step process, document checklist and fee worksheet are covered in our Brent Landlord Licensing Guide.

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