London

HMO licensing in Hillingdon

London Borough of Hillingdon requires a mandatory licence for HMOs occupied by 5 or more people from 2 or more households. It also runs additional licensing, which brings smaller HMOs (typically 3 or 4 people) into licensing. The published licence fee starts at £1,656.

Mandatory licence

5+ people, 2+ households

National scheme

Additional / selective

Additional

Council-designated schemes

Licence fee

From £1,656

Decision time

Not published

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Licensing schemes in Hillingdon

In force

Additional licensing

Hillingdon's new borough-wide Additional HMO licensing scheme (3-4 person HMOs from 2+ households; section 257 converted-flat buildings excluded) came into force on 24 August 2026 and runs to 23 August 2031. Applications opened on 20 May 2026 and enforcement against unlicensed HMOs can start from 24 August 2026. There is no selective licensing scheme.

In force from: 24 August 2026
Scheme ends: 23 August 2031

Council source

Verified 24 September 2026

Licence fees

The published fee for a new HMO licence is £1,656, and £1,656 to renew. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.

New HMO licence / renewal of HMO licence (the standard HMO licence, i.e. the mandatory scheme), 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027: initial payment £1,104 (payable during application) + final payment £552 (if application is successful) = £1,656. Separate line: Additional HMO licence, same period, total £1,401.

Fee source: pre.hillingdon.gov.uk (checked 2 October 2026). Fees change during the year, so check the council before you apply.

Additional and selective licence fees

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.

Additional licence

£1,401

Additional HMO licence (borough-wide) for a new application, standard rate for 2026/27, single flat fee per licence regardless of occupancy (3 to 4 occupants forming 2 or more households)

10% discount for accredited landlords or managing agents.

Scheme: From 24 August 2026 to 23 August 2031

Checked 2 October 2026 against pre.hillingdon.gov.uk

Minimum room sizes

Single bedroom	6.51 m² minimum floor area for one person aged 10 or over.
Double bedroom	10.22 m² minimum floor area for two people aged 10 or over.
Child bedroom	4.64 m² minimum floor area for one person aged under 10; any room under 4.64 m² cannot be used as sleeping accommodation.
Shared/common living room	10 m² minimum where a communal living room is provided, per Hillingdon's locally adopted space standards.

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.

Fire safety requirements

Provide hard-wired, mains-operated, interlinked smoke alarms with battery back-up (to BS 5446) in the hallway and on every landing, with at least one detector per floor level (more for corridors over 5m).
Fix a fire blanket conforming to BS EN 1869:1997 in every kitchen.
Limit the spread of fire and smoke and provide adequate fire protection to the means of escape and between units of accommodation, complying with the Standard Fire Safety Schedules of works under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
Provide appropriate detection/alarm systems and, where appropriate, emergency lighting and fire-fighting equipment; seek Building Control advice to confirm compliance.

Kitchen, bathroom and amenity standards

For every 5 people sharing one set of kitchen facilities: a fridge freezer of at least 300 litres, an oven and grill with 4-ring hob, a worktop at least 1500 x 600mm, a sink with drainer and constant hot/cold water, a lockable food storage cupboard of at least 0.93 m² per unit, and a mechanical extractor rated at 60 litres/second.
1-4 sharing occupiers: at least 1 bathroom and 1 WC (may be combined). 5 sharing occupiers: at least 1 bathroom with fixed bath/shower and 1 separate WC with wash-hand basin per 5 occupiers, plus a wash-hand basin in each bedroom where reasonably practicable.
All baths, showers and wash-hand basins must have taps providing constant hot and cold water; bathrooms must be suitably heated and ventilated (min. mechanical extraction 15 l/s, kitchens 60 l/s, with humidistat control and 15-minute over-run where there is no openable window).
The property must meet the Decent Homes Standard and be free from Category 1 and significant Category 2 hazards under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS).

Documents you will need

Gas safety certificate (CP12) — From a Gas Safe registered engineer within the last 12 months for every gas appliance, with a copy of the service contract.
EICR — Electrical Installation Condition Report (18th edition/NICEIC) confirming no defects affecting occupant safety.
EPC — Valid Energy Performance Certificate for the property.
Floor plan with room dimensions — Showing every room and its floor area, measured against the 6.51 m² / 10.22 m² / 4.64 m² HMO minimums.
Fire risk assessment / fire precautions evidence — Evidence that the property meets the Standard Fire Safety Schedules under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

Sources

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 Hillingdon before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.