Hounslow HMO Licence Renewal: When and How to Renew

A standard HMO licence in Hounslow lasts up to five years. When it expires, you do not get a grace period — the property reverts to unlicensed status immediately, and everything that comes with operating without a licence (civil penalties up to £40,000, Rent Repayment Orders, restricted possession rights) kicks in from day one.

How Long a Licence Lasts

The default duration is five years. However, the council can issue a shorter licence — typically one year — if there are concerns about:

• Property management standards or condition issues flagged during inspection
• Outstanding planning compliance problems (especially Article 4 Direction issues for HMO conversions)
• A history of operating unlicensed properties or breaching previous licence conditions
• The fit-and-proper person check raising concerns that do not warrant refusal but justify closer monitoring

A one-year licence costs the same as a five-year licence. The fee is per application, not per year, so a shortened licence is significantly more expensive per year of coverage.

When to Submit a Renewal

The council sends courtesy renewal reminders before a licence expires, but the legal responsibility for renewing on time rests entirely with the licence holder. Do not rely on council reminders — they are a courtesy, not a guarantee.

Submit your renewal application before the existing licence expires. The moment your application is duly made (form complete, required safety certificates uploaded, fee paid in full), you have statutory protection under section 72(4) while it is being processed. There is no gap in coverage if you time it correctly.

If you allow the licence to lapse before applying, you are operating unlicensed from the expiry date until your renewal application is duly made. Even a gap of a few days creates enforcement exposure.

How Renewal Differs from a New Application

The renewal process uses the same online portal and requires the same documents: current Gas Safety Certificate, EICR, fire alarm test report, fire risk assessment, scaled floor plans, tenancy agreements and fit-and-proper declarations.

The key differences:

• Updated documents only — you need current versions of every certificate. If your EICR was done four years ago and is still valid, you can submit it. But if any certificate has expired or will expire soon, you need a fresh one.
• Updated floor plans — if you have altered the property layout, added rooms, or changed room uses since the original licence, updated plans are required.
• Updated fit-and-proper declarations — any new convictions, cautions, housing law breaches or management changes since the original application must be disclosed.
• Full fee again — the renewal fee is the same as a new application: £1,608 base (or £1,509 accredited) plus £25 per household. There is no renewal discount.

Scheme Expiry vs Licence Expiry

These are different things, and confusing them is common.

Hounslow's current additional licensing scheme runs from 11 December 2025 to 10 December 2030. Individual licences granted under this scheme can last up to five years from the date of grant and have their own expiry dates. If your licence would run beyond the scheme's end date, confirm with Hounslow Council whether it remains valid or whether a fresh application is needed under any new designation.

For mandatory HMO licensing, there is no scheme expiry — it is permanent national law. A mandatory licence simply runs for its granted duration (up to five years) and then needs renewal.

What Happens If a Property Is Sold

An HMO licence is non-transferable under section 68(6) of the Housing Act 2004. If you sell a licensed property, the licence lapses on transfer of ownership. The new owner must submit their own application — they cannot operate under the previous owner's licence.

If the licence holder dies, the licence ceases but a temporary three-month exemption applies under section 68(7) to allow personal representatives to either apply for a new licence or arrange alternative use of the property.

Tracking Renewal Deadlines

With a five-year licence, the renewal date is easy to lose track of, especially for landlords managing just one or two properties. Mark the expiry date in your calendar with a reminder at least three months beforehand — that gives you time to renew safety certificates that may also be expiring and to gather updated documents.

The Hounslow Landlord Licensing Guide includes a licence condition calendar that tracks both the licence expiry and every recurring safety certificate deadline across the full five-year period.

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