London
HMO licensing in Kensington and Chelsea
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea 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 £1,493.
Mandatory licence
5+ people, 2+ households
National scheme
Additional / selective
Additional
Council-designated schemes
Licence fee
From £1,493
Decision time
Not published
Licensing schemes in Kensington and Chelsea
A borough-wide additional HMO licensing scheme covers HMOs with 3 or more occupiers from 2 or more households that fall outside mandatory licensing. It came into force on 1 June 2023 and ceases on 31 May 2028, unless revoked earlier. No renewal consultation has been announced.
- In force from
- 1 June 2023
- Scheme ends
- 31 May 2028
Verified 24 September 2026
Licence fees
The published fee for a new HMO licence is £1,493. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.
Initial application: Part A (application processing) £1,004, Part B (enforcement) £489, total £1,493, which covers a licence for up to 5 units of accommodation. An extra £72 per room applies for mandatory HMOs larger than 5 units. Discounts: £200 for landlords/managers accredited under LLAS/ATLAS, NRLA or an equivalent recognised scheme (or a manager holding a relevant Propertymark/Safeagent qualification); a further £30 per application for bulk applications of more than 3 HMOs under the same licence holder/managing agent. Landlords whose unlicensed HMO first came to the council's attention through enforcement are not eligible for discounts. The same fee schedule applies to both the mandatory and additional HMO licensing schemes.
Check the current fee on the council website (rbkc.gov.uk) 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
£1,493
Additional HMO licence (borough-wide) for a new application, standard rate for a property of up to 5 units of accommodation, paid in two parts (Part A £1,004 on application + Part B £489 once approved); same fee as mandatory licensing
£200 off for landlords accredited with LLAS/ATLAS, NRLA or an equivalent recognised scheme, or who employ a named manager who is Safeagent or Propertymark approved with a Level 3 Award in Residential Letting and Property Management; a further £30 per application where more than three HMO applications are made with the same landlord and managing agent. Not available where the HMO only came to the council's attention after it was unlicensed.
Scheme: From 1 June 2023 to 31 May 2028
Checked 2 October 2026 against rbkc.gov.uk
Minimum room sizes
| Single bedroom | 6.51 m² minimum floor area for one person aged 10 or over (national HMO space standard). |
|---|---|
| Double bedroom | 10.22 m² minimum floor area for two people aged 10 or over (national HMO space standard). |
| Child bedroom | 4.64 m² minimum floor area for one person aged under 10; rooms below this size cannot be used as sleeping accommodation (national HMO space standard). |
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 smoke alarms on every floor and heat detectors in kitchens, forming part of an interlinked detection system appropriate to the property.
- Provide fire doors on escape routes where required, and maintain the means of escape clear of obstructions.
- Maintain a current fire risk assessment for the property.
Kitchen, bathroom and amenity standards
- Provide kitchen, bathroom and toilet facilities appropriate to the number of occupiers, kept in good working order.
- Maintain adequate heating, lighting and ventilation throughout the property.
- Keep common parts and shared facilities clean, safe and in good repair.
Documents you will need
- Gas safety certificate (CP12) — Within the last 12 months for every gas appliance on the property.
- EICR — Electrical Installation Condition Report, dated within the last five years.
- EPC — Valid Energy Performance Certificate for the property.
- Floor plan with room dimensions — To scale, showing every room and its floor area against the HMO minimums.
- Fire risk assessment — Current assessment of the property's means of escape, alarms and fire precautions.
Sources
Compiled from the council’s own published pages and documents; data reviewed September 2026. Rules and fees change, so always confirm with Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.