Brent Selective Licensing Wards: Which Designation Covers Your Property

Designation 1: Three Wards (August 2023 – July 2028)

Brent's first selective licensing designation (Public Notice 1/2023) came into force on 1 August 2023 and expires on 31 July 2028. It covers three wards:

• Harlesden & Kensal Green
• Dollis Hill
• Willesden Green

These wards were designated first because they had the highest concentrations of privately rented properties with poor housing conditions and anti-social behaviour. If your single-household rental property sits in one of these three wards, you have needed a selective licence since August 2023.

Designation 2: Eighteen Wards (April 2024 – March 2029)

The second designation (Public Notice 2/2023), confirmed by the Secretary of State on 30 November 2023, came into force on 1 April 2024 and expires on 31 March 2029. It covers the remaining 18 designated wards:

Alperton, Barnhill, Brondesbury Park, Fryent, Kensal Green (the parts outside Designation 1), Kenton, Kilburn, Kingsbury, Mapesbury, Northwick Park, Preston, Queens Park, Queensbury, Roundwood, Stonebridge, Sudbury, Tokyngton, and Welsh Harp.

Together with Designation 1, this brings the total to 21 of Brent's 22 electoral wards.

The Wembley Park Exemption

Wembley Park is the only ward where single-household lets are exempt from selective licensing. A family renting a house in Wembley Park does not need any licence.

The exemption applies strictly to the selective licensing obligation. If a Wembley Park property is shared by three or more people from two or more households who share basic amenities, it still needs an HMO licence — the additional or mandatory scheme applies borough-wide, including Wembley Park.

Why the Designation Matters

The two designations have different expiry dates. These are the designations' end dates, not the expiry dates for every individual licence. Check the expiry date on your licence to know when to renew.

If a renewal is submitted after the licence expires, the council treats it as a new application — at the higher fee (£640 instead of £600) and without licensing cover during the processing gap.

Do Not Rely on Postcodes

Postcodes in north-west London frequently cross ward boundaries. The HA9 postcode spans parts of Wembley Park (exempt), Tokyngton (Designation 2) and Preston (Designation 2). The NW10 postcode covers Harlesden (Designation 1) and parts of neighbouring boroughs entirely.

The only reliable check is Brent Council's interactive address lookup tool, which confirms the exact ward for any property address.

What If Your Ward Changes

Electoral ward boundaries were fixed during Brent's local governance restructuring at 22 wards. While boundaries are stable, designation renewals are not guaranteed. When Designation 1 expires in July 2028, the council may consult on whether to renew it, modify the ward coverage, or let it lapse. Existing licences remain valid until their individual expiry date regardless of what happens to the broader scheme.

For a complete guide to determining which licence you need, the application process, fees and conditions, see our Brent Landlord Licensing Guide.

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