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We currently show scheme records, official links, and supporting research for this council.
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This page includes the scheme records we currently hold, but council policies and boundaries can change. Treat it as a researched starting point and verify the latest position on the official council pages before acting.
Based on publicly available information, we show the licensing status we currently hold for London Borough of Hillingdon, highlight mandatory HMO rules, and link you to official council sources for verification where we currently have them.
Confirm the current scheme boundary, licence fee, exemptions, application route, and any recent policy changes on the council website before making decisions.
Our current data is based on publicly available information. Always verify the latest licensing position, scheme boundaries, fees, and exemptions with London Borough of Hillingdon.
We research council licensing information from public sources and present it as general guidance. We do not replace the council's own licensing pages or legal advice.
Council updates
We will email you if London Borough of Hillingdon introduces, renews, or changes a licensing scheme. Free, occasional updates only. Always verify final requirements on the council website.
Free, occasional licensing updates only. You can unsubscribe at any time.
This page may already answer a lot of the question. Use the paid products only if you want a quicker written summary, a more risk-focused view, or ongoing monitoring.
Property Licensing Check
Live now
A concise written review for one property, postcode, or council situation based on current public council-source information.
Best for: Best for landlords, agents, and buyers who want written clarity quickly on one case.
Delivery: Concise report by email, usually within 2 working days
Licensing Due Diligence Report
Coming soon
A more tailored, more decision-oriented, and more risk-focused review for higher-stakes property decisions.
Best for: Best for buyers, investors, agents, landlords refinancing, and conveyancers handling material decisions.
Delivery: Analyst-reviewed report with stronger risk framing
Alerts and monitoring
Coming soon
A lighter monitoring tier for selected councils or areas, aimed at landlords and smaller investors who want ongoing updates.
Best for: Best for landlords and smaller investors who want ongoing updates without building their own tracking process.
Delivery: Monthly monitoring and change alerts
These options are designed to save research time, improve clarity, and support decision-making. Final reliance should still be tied back to the relevant council and, where necessary, professional advice.
Enter a postcode to see whether it appears to fall within a licensing scheme area, then verify the result with the council.
Borough-wide additional licensing scheme covering all Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) occupied by three or four people from two or more households sharing facilities, that fall outside the scope of mandatory HMO licensing. Covers shared houses, shared flats, and bedsit HMOs. Excludes all Section 257 HMOs (converted buildings where the conversion did not comply with Building Regulations and less than two-thirds of flats are owner-occupied).
Approved by Cabinet on 19 February 2026 following a 10-week public consultation held 31 October 2025 to 11 January 2026, which received over 1,000 responses — 80% backed the introduction of additional licensing. The scheme was developed in response to: a 7.8% increase in private renting between 2011 and 2021 (second-largest rise in London); nearly 4,000 anti-social behaviour complaints linked to HMOs since 2020; and the existence of approximately 1,800 estimated 'hidden HMOs' not captured by mandatory licensing. The scheme works alongside the borough-wide Article 4 Direction that took effect 10 December 2025, which requires planning permission for change of use from C3 (single family dwelling) to C4 (HMO). Applications are accepted from 20 May 2026 to 23 August 2026. All landlords of in-scope HMOs must have applied by 23 August 2026 (the day before the scheme starts). As of March 2026, the scheme had been approved but not yet commenced; this scheme status is 'approved_not_yet_active'. Property types covered: HMOs occupied by three or four people from two or more households who share kitchen, bathroom, or toilet facilities. Includes shared houses, shared flats, and bedsit HMOs. Specifically excludes Section 257 HMOs (properties converted into self-contained flats where: the conversion did not comply with the relevant Building Regulations at the time and still does not comply, and less than two-thirds of the flats are owner-occupied).. Exemptions or exclusions: All Section 257 HMOs (converted buildings with self-contained flats that did not meet Building Regulations, where less than two-thirds are owner-occupied) are excluded from this scheme. Properties requiring mandatory HMO licensing (5+ occupants) are excluded. Standard national additional licensing exemptions apply..
Our current data shows this scheme based on public information. Always verify the latest fees, dates, and boundary wording on the official council page.
Borough-wide mandatory licensing scheme applying to all Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) occupied by five or more people from two or more households sharing facilities. Covers shared houses, shared flats, bedsit-style properties, properties converted into self-contained units (Section 254 tests: standard test, self-contained flat test, and converted building test under the Housing Act 2004).
National mandatory scheme under the Housing Act 2004, extended from 1 October 2018 to cover all HMOs with 5+ occupants regardless of number of storeys (previously applied only to 3+ storey properties). Not a local designation; no end date. As of May 2025, Hillingdon's public register listed 736 licensed mandatory HMO properties, against an estimated 2,500 licensable HMOs in the borough, suggesting significant non-compliance. The council estimates approximately 2,537 HMOs in the borough overall, of which 74% are estimated to be unlicensed (including smaller HMOs not yet subject to additional licensing). Property types covered: Properties occupied by five or more people who are not all related and live in the property as their main home, sharing kitchen, bathroom, or toilet facilities. Includes: shared houses and flats, properties converted into bedsits or non-self-contained units, residential premises above shops. Applies to properties meeting the Section 254 Housing Act 2004 standard test, self-contained flat test, or converted building test.. Exemptions or exclusions: Standard national mandatory HMO licensing exemptions apply. Properties with fewer than five occupants are not covered (these will fall under additional licensing from August 2026). Section 257 HMOs (purpose-built blocks of self-contained flats) are excluded from mandatory licensing under the standard HMO definition..
Our current data shows this scheme based on public information. Always verify the latest fees, dates, and boundary wording on the official council page.
These public research signals help show how recently this page was reviewed and what still needs checking before you rely on it.
Last reviewed
27 March 2026
Research confidence
High (76/100)
Sources checked
20
Key facts are confirmed across multiple sources: the mandatory HMO fee of £1,577 (Part A £1,051.32, Part B £525.68) is confirmed by the official Hillingdon Council fees page (pre.hillingdon.gov.uk/hmo/apply-hmo-licence/3) and corroborated by London Property Licensing. The additional HMO licensing scheme fee of £1,401 (Part A £934, Part B £467) is confirmed by the official Hillingdon Council news article (pre.hillingdon.gov.uk/news/article/259), London Property Licensing, and multiple property industry sources. The scheme launch date of 24 August 2026, Cabinet approval date of 19 February 2026, consultation dates, and the Section 257 exclusion are all consistently reported. The absence of any selective licensing scheme is confirmed both by official sources and third-party sources. The public register (PDF, ~736 properties as of April 2025) and its URL are confirmed. The mandatory HMO 'no discount' conclusion is confirmed by London Property Licensing explicitly noting there is no accredited landlord discount for mandatory licensing in Hillingdon.
The register is publicly downloadable as a PDF from the council website. As of April 2025 the register contained approximately 736 properties. The register covers mandatory HMO licences only; the additional licensing register will not be available until the scheme launches in August 2026. An FOI request published on WhatDoTheyKnow also sought a register, indicating the PDF is the primary public access method. The register is also listed on data.gov.uk: https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/e5d7c4b6-2527-407c-bcff-23401e4c463e/hmo-register5
Supporting sources
All councils in England must operate mandatory HMO licensing. This applies to properties with 5 or more occupants forming 2 or more separate households, regardless of location. If your property meets these criteria, you must apply for a mandatory HMO licence from London Borough of Hillingdon.
Borough-wide mandatory licensing scheme applying to all Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) occupied by five or more people from two or more households sharing facilities. Covers shared houses, shared flats, bedsit-style properties, properties converted into self-contained units (Section 254 tests: standard test, self-contained flat test, and converted building test under the Housing Act 2004).
National mandatory scheme under the Housing Act 2004, extended from 1 October 2018 to cover all HMOs with 5+ occupants regardless of number of storeys (previously applied only to 3+ storey properties). Not a local designation; no end date. As of May 2025, Hillingdon's public register listed 736 licensed mandatory HMO properties, against an estimated 2,500 licensable HMOs in the borough, suggesting significant non-compliance. The council estimates approximately 2,537 HMOs in the borough overall, of which 74% are estimated to be unlicensed (including smaller HMOs not yet subject to additional licensing). Property types covered: Properties occupied by five or more people who are not all related and live in the property as their main home, sharing kitchen, bathroom, or toilet facilities. Includes: shared houses and flats, properties converted into bedsits or non-self-contained units, residential premises above shops. Applies to properties meeting the Section 254 Housing Act 2004 standard test, self-contained flat test, or converted building test.. Exemptions or exclusions: Standard national mandatory HMO licensing exemptions apply. Properties with fewer than five occupants are not covered (these will fall under additional licensing from August 2026). Section 257 HMOs (purpose-built blocks of self-contained flats) are excluded from mandatory licensing under the standard HMO definition..
In addition to licensing, all private landlords in England must comply with these requirements:
Use these routes to move from the London Borough of Hillingdon summary into the most relevant next action for your property, role, or research task.
Landlord with a standard let→
Start with a postcode if you want a property-specific route before relying on the council summary alone.
Shared occupancy or possible HMO→
Use the HMO checker if occupier numbers, households, or room-sharing could change the answer.
Check if a property has an HMO licence→
Use this if you need to check whether a property holds an HMO licence, or find the council's public HMO register.
Investor, buyer, or conveyancer→
Use the due diligence guide if this council page is part of a purchase, refinance, or pre-letting review.
Letting agent or portfolio manager→
Preview the monitoring route if you need ongoing watchlists and recurring scheme-change visibility.
Understand additional licensing rules→
Read the guide if you want the broader background on how additional HMO licensing works alongside this council page.
Need the local HMO route→
Use the additional licensing page if the real question is whether a smaller shared house needs a local licence here.
Tenant checking landlord compliance→
Use the tenant guide if you rent a property and want to check whether your landlord holds the right licence.
Important disclaimer
This tool provides general information about landlord licensing schemes in England. Results are based on publicly available data and may not reflect recent changes. This is not legal advice. Always verify licensing requirements directly with your local council before making decisions.
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