Property Licensing Check
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Council websiteLandlord licensing in London Borough of Hounslow
London
We currently show scheme records, official links, and supporting research for this council.
Licensing scorecard
Enhanced coverageOur current data shows active local licensing signals. Verify the latest boundaries, dates, fees, and exemptions with the council.
Selective licensing
No active selective scheme shownAdditional HMO licensing
Active additionalMandatory HMO licensing
Applies across England- Source confidence
- High
- Boundary confidence
- High
- Public register
- Clear searchable register (1/5)
- Last reviewed
- 27 March 2026
- Next review due
- Not scheduled
- Sources recorded
- 16
Our current data is a research summary, not a legal record. This should be verified with the council before letting, purchasing, refinancing, or taking legal action. Mandatory HMO licensing may still apply even where no local additional or selective scheme is recorded.
Recommended next step
Verify the position with the official council source
Our current data shows an active local scheme and a clear area match. The fastest reliable next step is to confirm the current fees, dates, boundaries, and exemptions on the official council source before letting, purchasing, refinancing, or taking legal action.
What still adds uncertainty
- Mandatory HMO licensing can apply based on occupancy and households, which cannot be confirmed from a postcode alone.
Buying, refinancing, or completing conveyancing? A due diligence report pulls the licensing position together with the official routes so the risk is documented before you commit. This is an information service and is not legal advice.
Verify with the council
Our current data is based on publicly available information. Always verify the latest licensing position, scheme boundaries, fees, and exemptions with London Borough of Hounslow.
Council updates
Get updates for London Borough of Hounslow
We will email you if London Borough of Hounslow 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.
If you need more than the council page
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.
Licensing Due Diligence Report
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A more tailored, more decision-oriented, and more risk-focused review for higher-stakes property decisions.
Request the reportAlerts and monitoring
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A lighter monitoring tier for selected councils or areas, aimed at landlords and smaller investors who want ongoing updates.
See alerts and monitoringThese are information services, not legal advice. Final reliance should still be checked against council sources.
Check a postcode in London Borough of Hounslow
Enter a postcode to see whether it appears to fall within a licensing scheme area, then verify the result with the council.
Local licensing scheme records
Additional LicensingActive
Additional HMO Licensing Scheme 2025–2030
Borough-wide scheme covering all Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) occupied by three or more people forming two or more households who share facilities, and Section 257 HMOs (buildings converted into self-contained flats where the conversion did not comply with Building Regulations and the building and all dwellings are under the same or effectively the same ownership or control). Purpose-built self-contained flats in blocks of three or more self-contained units are excluded.
- HMO licence fee
- £1,550
- Fee guide
- Base fee of £1,550 per property, plus £25 per household residing in the HMO. For example, a property with 3 households pays £1,550 + (3 × £25) = £1,625. An additional fee applies for assistance with measuring rooms and providing a sketch plan. The council splits the fee into Part A (costs of determining the application, inspecting the property, and issuing the licence) and Part B (costs of enforcement against unlicensed operators and monitoring compliance). £95 discount for accredited landlords or accredited managing agents who are members of a recognised accreditation scheme, including the London Landlord Accreditation Scheme (LLAS), NLA/NRLA, RLA, ARLA/PropertyMark, NALS, RICS, or UKALA. Only one discount of £95 applies per application; certification must be supplied with the application.
- Discount available
- £95 discount for accredited landlords or accredited managing agents who are members of a recognised accreditation scheme, including the London Landlord Accreditation Scheme (LLAS), NLA/NRLA, RLA, ARLA/PropertyMark, NALS, RICS, or UKALA. Only one discount of £95 applies per application; certification must be supplied with the application.
- Scheme period
- 11 December 2025 - 10 December 2030
- Typical licence term
- Up to 5 years (the council may issue shorter one-year licences if management concerns exist or deliberate licensing avoidance is identified)
- Coverage
- Borough-wide
Research notes
Designated on 11 September 2025 following a Cabinet decision on 2 September 2025. Consultation ran from 12 March to 21 May 2025 and produced an evenly split result: 47.9% of respondents supported renewal, 47.9% opposed, 4.2% unsure. Despite the tied outcome, Cabinet voted to renew the scheme. This is the second consecutive five-year additional licensing designation in Hounslow; the previous scheme ran from 1 August 2020 to 31 July 2025. There was a gap period from 1 August 2025 to 10 December 2025 (approximately 4.5 months) during which no additional licensing scheme was in force. Applications for the new scheme were encouraged to be submitted before 11 December 2025. During the first four years of the previous additional scheme (2020–2024), 40% of all HMO licence applications received were for discretionary (additional) licences. As at April 2025, approximately 1,236 properties were listed on the public register. Property types covered: All HMOs as defined by section 254 of the Housing Act 2004 occupied by three or more persons in two or more households sharing facilities (kitchen, bathroom, or toilet), including small HMOs with 3–4 occupants not captured by mandatory licensing. Also includes Section 257 HMOs: buildings converted into self-contained flats where the conversion did not comply with Building Regulations, and the building and all dwellings are under unified or effectively the same ownership or control. Purpose-built flat blocks of three or more self-contained units are excluded. Exemptions or exclusions: Multi-occupied purpose-built self-contained flats in blocks comprising three or more self-contained flats are excluded. Properties meeting mandatory HMO licensing thresholds (5+ occupants) require mandatory licensing instead. Standard national exemptions under the Housing Act 2004 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.
Additional LicensingExpired
Additional HMO Licensing Scheme 2020–2025 (expired)
Borough-wide scheme covering most HMOs occupied by three or more people who are not all related and sharing facilities, including Section 257 HMOs where all flats are privately rented under unified ownership or control. Excluded multi-occupied purpose-built self-contained flats in blocks of three or more units.
- HMO licence fee
- £1,250
- Fee guide
- Launch fee (August 2020): £1,250 per property, matching the mandatory HMO fee at the time. An accredited landlord discount of £75 applied at launch. Fee structure later revised to £1,480 base plus £25 per household (confirmed as at July 2024 by Kamma), and then updated to £1,550 plus £25 per household for FY2025–26 before the scheme expired. £75 discount for accredited landlords and agents at scheme launch (August 2020). Later revised to £95 discount for accredited landlords/agents.
- Discount available
- £75 discount for accredited landlords and agents at scheme launch (August 2020). Later revised to £95 discount for accredited landlords/agents.
- Scheme period
- 1 August 2020 - 31 July 2025
- Typical licence term
- Up to 5 years
- Coverage
- Borough-wide
Research notes
The scheme was introduced following a second consultation (October–December 2019) after a proposed scheme was withdrawn in September 2019 following the threat of legal challenge. Cabinet approved the scheme on 17 March 2020. A second round of consultation was needed after the first round produced majority opposition. The scheme came into force on 1 August 2020 and expired on 31 July 2025. It was succeeded by the 2025–2030 scheme after a gap period. Property types covered: Smaller S254 HMOs occupied by three or four persons, plus S257 HMOs (converted flat blocks under unified private rented ownership or control). Excluded purpose-built blocks of 3+ self-contained flats. Exemptions or exclusions: Multi-occupied purpose-built self-contained flats in blocks of 3+ self-contained flats excluded. Standard national 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.
Public licensing register
Councils must keep a public register of licensed properties. How easy it is to use varies a lot between councils.
- Public register found
- Yes
- Search method
- Search online
- Register usability
- Clear searchable register (1/5)
- Register updated
- March 2026
Register appears to cover
HMOAdditional (unconfirmed)
Appears to cover HMO licences - always confirm scope on the register itself.
Register notes
As at April 2025, the register listed approximately 1,236 licensed properties. The register was reportedly removed from the main council website circa October 2025; the open data portal dataset remains actively maintained (last updated March 2026). The council can also be contacted directly at housing.enforcement@hounslow.gov.uk for register queries. Historical archived registers are also available at data.gov.uk/dataset/dfdbf09c-e53b-424f-b504-6d3b420c7e6d/register-of-licensed-hmos1.
The council register and official source pages should be treated as the source of truth. Our summary is a guide to help you find and use them, not a substitute for the live register. How public registers work.
Research summary
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 (81/100)
Sources checked
16
Research notes
The current additional licensing scheme dates, fees (£1,550 base + £25 per household), discount (£95), and borough-wide coverage are consistently confirmed across multiple official Hounslow Council pages, the democratic services portal, London Property Licensing, and Kamma. The confirmation that no selective licensing scheme exists is confirmed by both London Property Licensing and Kamma. The public register is confirmed via the open data portal (data.hounslow.gov.uk), last updated March 2026. The gap period between the two additional licensing schemes (1 August–10 December 2025) is confirmed by multiple sources. The previous scheme dates (1 August 2020–31 July 2025) are confirmed. The mandatory HMO fee being the same structure as additional (£1,550 + £25/household) is confirmed by the fees page.
Council contact details
- Phone
- 020 8583 2000
Important to verify
- Confirmation of whether the same £1,550 + £25/household fee applies identically to mandatory HMO licence renewals (vs. new applications)
- Exact fee breakdown between Part A and Part B components of the licence fee
- Whether Section 257 HMOs under the new scheme carry a different fee or the same fee as standard additional licences
- Any recent council change that could affect the current public summary.
Supporting sources
- https://www.hounslow.gov.uk/houses-multiple-occupation/hmo-licensing/2
- https://www.hounslow.gov.uk/houses-multiple-occupation/hmo-licensing/3
- https://www.hounslow.gov.uk/downloads/file/11546/designated-document-additional-licensing-scheme-2025-2030
- https://www.hounslow.gov.uk/downloads/file/11547/hmo-licensing-policy-2025
- https://www.hounslow.gov.uk/downloads/file/11548/hmo-licensing-conditions-2025
- https://democraticservices.hounslow.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?Id=20064
Mandatory HMO licensing
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 Hounslow.
Not sure whether the rules apply? Use the HMO licence checker to check whether a property may need an HMO licence, then verify the current position with London Borough of Hounslow.
Council-specific HMO detail we currently show
National mandatory scheme applying borough-wide to all HMOs occupied by five or more people from two or more households sharing facilities, including shared houses, bedsits with shared facilities, and properties converted into a mixture of self-contained and non-self-contained accommodation. Applies under the standard test, self-contained flat test, and converted building test of section 254 Housing Act 2004.
- HMO fee guide
- £1,550
- Fee notes
- Same fee structure as additional licensing: £1,550 base fee per property plus £25 per household. The same £95 accredited landlord/agent discount applies. An additional fee applies for room measuring and sketch plan assistance (£30 per room). The council operates the same fee schedule for both mandatory and additional HMO licences. £95 discount for members of recognised accreditation schemes (LLAS, NRLA, RLA, ARLA/PropertyMark, NALS, RICS, UKALA) acting as the licence holder or designated manager.
- Typical licence term
- Up to 5 years (shorter one-year licences may be issued where management concerns exist)
- Start date shown
- 1 October 2018
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 only 3+ storey properties). Not a local designation; no end date. The council estimates approximately 500–700 properties in Hounslow require mandatory licensing. Applications are submitted via the council's online form at eforms.hounslow.gov.uk/ufs/ufsmain?formid=A208_HOUSING_MULTIPLE_OCCUPANCY. Property types covered: Any house or flat occupied by five or more people who are not all related and live in the property as their main home, and share a kitchen, bathroom, or toilet. Includes: shared houses and flats occupied by students and young professionals; properties converted into bedsits with some shared facilities; properties converted into a mixture of self-contained and non-self-contained accommodation. Purpose-built self-contained flat blocks of three or more units are exempt from mandatory licensing. Exemptions or exclusions: Purpose-built self-contained flat blocks comprising three or more units are exempt. Standard national mandatory HMO exemptions under the Housing Act 2004 apply.
Other compliance requirements
In addition to licensing, all private landlords in England must comply with these requirements:
- Gas Safety Certificate (CP12) - renewed annually
- EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) - every 5 years
- EPC rating of E or above - required before letting
- Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms - checked at start of tenancy
- Deposit protection - within 30 days of receiving deposit
- Right to Rent checks - before tenancy starts
Common questions about licensing in London Borough of Hounslow
- Do I need a landlord licence in London Borough of Hounslow?
- London Borough of Hounslow currently operates additional HMO licensing. Whether you need a licence depends on the property location, type, and occupancy. Use the postcode checker on this page or contact the council directly to confirm.
- How much does a property licence cost in London Borough of Hounslow?
- Based on our current data, licence fees in London Borough of Hounslow are approximately: Additional HMO Licensing Scheme 2025–2030: £1,550; Mandatory HMO Licensing: £1,550; Additional HMO Licensing Scheme 2020–2025 (expired): £1,250. Fees can vary and may include discounts for early applications. Always check the latest fees on the council website before applying.
- Does mandatory HMO licensing apply in London Borough of Hounslow?
- Yes. Mandatory HMO licensing applies across all of England, including London Borough of Hounslow. It covers properties with 5 or more occupiers forming 2 or more separate households. You must apply to London Borough of Hounslow for a mandatory HMO licence if your property meets these criteria.
- What happens if I rent without a licence in London Borough of Hounslow?
- Operating a licensable property without the correct licence can lead to enforcement action. For offences committed on or after 1 May 2026, GOV.UK guidance refers to civil penalties of up to £40,000 for relevant offences, with different treatment for breaches and for offences committed before that date. Earlier cases may still be assessed under previous rules. Tenants or local authorities may be able to apply for a rent repayment order. GOV.UK guidance now refers to up to two years' rent for relevant offences, but eligibility, timing and the final amount depend on the facts and tribunal decision. From 1 May 2026, Section 21 notices can no longer be used for existing or new private tenancies in England. Transitional rules may still matter for notices served before that date.
Still unsure? Choose the next step that fits you
Use these routes to move from the London Borough of Hounslow 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.