How to Apply for a Landlord Licence in Ealing: Step-by-Step

Ealing Council processes property licence applications through its online portal. Paper applications are accepted but attract a £100 surcharge on top of the Part A fee. If you can use a web browser, the online route is cheaper and faster — but Ealing rejects applications after 14 days if required documents are missing or invalid.

Before You Start: Assemble Your Compliance File

Gather every document before you touch the portal. If the council finds missing or invalid documents after you submit, it will reject your application after 14 days and keep the Part A fee.

You need:

• Gas Safety Certificate (CP12) — within 12 months, covering all appliances, flues and pipework, with no unresolved "At Risk" or "Immediately Dangerous" faults
• Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) — within 5 years, explicitly marked "Satisfactory" with zero Code C1 or C2 defects
• Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) — minimum Band E (unless a valid MEES exemption is registered)
• Scaled floor plans — showing room dimensions in square metres, ceiling heights, window and door positions, room uses, and fire door locations (HMO applications)
• Fire Risk Assessment — for mandatory HMOs and Section 257 buildings
• Tenancy agreement sample — your template tenancy and a written tenant referencing policy
• Statutory notification proof — evidence that you have notified mortgagees, freeholders, joint owners and managing agents of your intention to apply

Step 1: Create a Portal Account

Register on Ealing's licensing portal using a verified email address. If the property is owned by a limited company, the company must be named as licence holder — supply the registered company number, registered address and a responsible director's details.

Step 2: Designate the Licence Holder and Manager

The licence holder is normally the person receiving the rent or the titled owner. Overseas owners must appoint a UK-based managing agent as named manager. Every proposed licence holder, manager and corporate officer must complete a fit and proper person declaration covering unspent convictions, housing law violations and insolvency history.

Step 3: Complete the Online Form and Upload Documents

Fill in the application form for the correct scheme (mandatory HMO, additional HMO or selective). Upload every document as a clear, legible scan or digital original. Double-check that certificates show valid dates and correct property addresses.

Step 4: Pay the Part A Fee

Fees are split into two stages. Part A is the processing fee, payable at submission and non-refundable once processing has commenced:

• Mandatory HMO: £500
• Additional HMO: £300
• Selective: £250

Once Part A is paid, the portal generates a submission reference. This is your acknowledgement — it is not a licence.

Step 5: Wait for Validation

Licensing officers check your submission. If everything is in order, your application status moves to "valid application pending determination" — this gives you temporary protection against prosecution for operating without a licence. If documents are missing or invalid, Ealing rejects the application after 14 days and the Part A fee is forfeited. Follow any requisition notice you receive.

Step 6: Review the Draft Licence

Once validated, the council issues a Notice of Intent (draft licence) with proposed conditions. You have 21 days to make written representations if you disagree with any conditions.

Step 7: Pay Part B and Receive the Licence

After reviewing any representations, the council issues a Notice of Decision and the final licence, contingent on paying the Part B fee. Claim any applicable discounts (£75 for accreditation, £50 for EPC Band A–C) against the Part B amount.

The Ealing landlord licensing guide includes a pre-submission document audit checklist, the full fee breakdown for all three schemes, and a walkthrough of the portal's upload requirements — designed to get your application through the 14-day document check on the first attempt.

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