HMO licensing in Ealing

The published fee for a new HMO licence is £1,500. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.

Mandatory HMO licence (5+ occupants): £1,000 fixed fee plus a per-room charge, giving a total of £1,500 for up to 5 bedrooms, £1,600 for 6-7 bedrooms, £1,700 for 8-10 bedrooms, £1,800 for 11-15 bedrooms, £1,900 for 16-19 bedrooms and £2,000 for 20+ bedrooms. Additional HMO licence (3-4 occupants): £1,300 fixed fee. Selective licence: £750 (new and renewal); £675 for self-contained flats let to a single household. Fees are paid in two parts (Part A on application, Part B when a draft licence is issued); the council's public fee page does not publish the Part A/Part B split. No separate renewal figure is published for HMO licences (selective licence renewal is the same as the new-application fee). Accredited landlords and properties with an EPC rating of A-C may qualify for discounts under the council's fees schedule.

Check the current fee on the council website (ealing.gov.uk) before you apply.

Fees for council-designated schemes are set separately from the mandatory HMO fee. Figures are the standard full-rate fee for a new licence, before any discounts.

National minimums for licensed HMOs are 6.51 m² for one adult and 10.22 m² for two adults; councils can apply higher local standards.

• Two-or-more-storey HMOs require self-closing FD30S fire doors (30-minute fire and smoke protection) on all bedrooms, kitchens and living rooms, with certified fire-rated hinges and cold smoke seals.
• All HMOs must have an automatic fire detection and alarm system: Grade D1/LD2 to BS 5839-6 for one- or two-storey HMOs, or Grade A/LD2 with a control panel and battery back-up for three-or-more-storey HMOs.
• Provide a fire blanket to British Standards in the kitchen, and emergency lighting to BS 5266 on the protected escape route where routes are complex or long.
• Fire alarm systems must be tested annually by a qualified person (with a six-monthly service for Grade A systems) and smoke/heat alarms kept in working order at all times.
• No bedroom may be accessed via a kitchen, and a current fire risk assessment must be maintained for the common parts and reviewed annually or at each change of tenancy.

• Minimum bathroom provision scales with occupancy: at least one bathroom/toilet for up to 5 people, two bathrooms (one with a separate toilet) for 6-10 people, three bathrooms and three toilets for 11-15 people.
• A full set of kitchen facilities (4-ring cooker, oven, grill, sink, fridge-freezer) is required for every 5 occupants sharing, with minimum kitchen size of 6 m² (8.5 m² for a kitchen-diner).
• Fixed space heating must be provided in every bedroom, lounge and hallway, capable of maintaining 18-21°C depending on room type when it is -1°C outside.
• Adequate external bin storage for rubbish, dry recycling and food waste must be provided for the number of units and occupants, at the landlord's cost.
• An EICR (5-yearly), annual gas safety check, and an EPC of E or above (unless a registered exemption applies) must all be in place before letting.

• Gas safety certificate (CP12) — Annual check for every gas appliance; a copy must be given to each tenant at the start of their tenancy.
• EICR — Electrical Installation Condition Report at least every 5 years, with any Code 1 or 2 faults addressed immediately.
• EPC — Valid Energy Performance Certificate covering the whole property (not individual rooms); must be rated E or above unless a registered exemption applies.
• Fire detection and alarm system certificate — Installer's certificate confirming the system meets BS 5839-6 Grade D1/LD2 (1-2 storeys) or Grade A/LD2 (3+ storeys), plus annual test records.
• PAT testing records — Annual Portable Appliance Test certificate for all electrical appliances supplied by the landlord.

• ealing.gov.uk
• ealing.gov.uk
• ealing.gov.uk
• ealing.moderngov.co.uk
• ealing.moderngov.co.uk

Compiled from the council’s own published pages and documents; data reviewed September 2026. Rules and fees change, so always confirm with London Borough of Ealing before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.