Brent Landlord Licence Renewal: Deadlines, Fees and How to Avoid a Gap

Missing a licence renewal deadline in Brent does not just mean filling out another form — it means paying the higher new-application fee and leaving your property unlicensed in the gap, exposed to a civil penalty of up to £40,000 for relevant offences committed from 1 May 2026.

When Does Each Brent Licensing Scheme Expire?

Brent runs three licensing schemes with different end dates:

• Selective Designation 1 (Harlesden & Kensal Green, Dollis Hill, Willesden Green): started 1 August 2023, expires 31 July 2028
• Selective Designation 2 (18 remaining wards, excluding Wembley Park): started 1 April 2024, expires 31 March 2029
• Additional HMO Licensing (borough-wide, 3–4 person shared properties and section 257 converted buildings): started 2 February 2026, expires 1 February 2031
• Mandatory HMO Licensing (borough-wide, 5+ occupants): a permanent national scheme with no expiry date

Your individual licence runs for up to five years from the date it was granted. A licence can continue until its stated expiry even if the designation ends sooner; the designation determines whether a new licence can be issued when the current one expires.

When to Submit a Renewal Application

Brent Council recommends applying at least 60 days before your licence expires. That buffer gives the council time to process the application before the old licence lapses.

If you submit after expiry, the council treats it as a brand-new application. That triggers the higher new-application fee and leaves the property technically unlicensed from the expiry date until the new licence is granted.

Renewal Fees vs New-Application Fees

Renewal applications cost £40–£100 less depending on the scheme type. That discount only applies when the renewal is submitted before the existing licence expires.

LLAS-accredited landlords still receive the £40 discount on HMO renewals.

What You Need for a Renewal

The process mirrors the original application. You submit through Brent's online licensing portal with:

• A current Gas Safety Certificate (within 12 months)
• A satisfactory EICR (within 5 years)
• A valid EPC rated A–E
• Updated floor plans if the layout has changed
• Fresh fit-and-proper declarations for the licence holder and any managing agent

Submit current certificates: the Gas Safety Certificate should be within 12 months and the EICR within five years. Brent may issue a one-year licence in some cases, including when required compliance documents are not provided by the application deadline.

What Happens If the Scheme Itself Expires?

When a selective or additional scheme reaches its end date, its designation ceases. The council can make a new designation, subject to that scheme's statutory requirements, or let it lapse. Since 23 December 2024, selective licensing designations of any size no longer need Secretary of State confirmation.

If the scheme is renewed, existing licences continue until their stated expiry; apply for a new licence when the current one expires if the property remains covered. If it lapses, the licensing requirement ends for new applications in that area, but an existing licence continues until it expires or is otherwise ended. Mandatory HMO licensing continues regardless because it is a permanent national scheme.

Brent has made successive selective designations and launched the borough-wide additional scheme in 2026 to close the gap left by smaller HMOs. The direction is toward more licensing, not less.

Avoiding a Compliance Gap

Set a calendar reminder for 90 days before your licence expiry. That gives you 30 days to gather updated certificates and still meet the 60-day submission window. The Landlord Licensing in Brent guide includes a renewal calendar template that tracks both your individual licence expiry and the scheme designation dates side by side.

If you discover your licence has already expired, submit a new application and pay the Part A fee immediately — a pending application provides a statutory defence against prosecution for operating without a licence, even though it does not count as a granted licence.

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