London
HMO licensing in Westminster
Westminster City Council requires a mandatory licence for HMOs occupied by 5 or more people from 2 or more households. It also runs additional licensing (bringing smaller HMOs into licensing) and selective licensing (covering other privately rented homes in designated areas). The published licence fee starts at £1,540.
Mandatory licence
5+ people, 2+ households
National scheme
Additional / selective
Additional + Selective
Council-designated schemes
Licence fee
From £1,540
Decision time
Not published
Licensing schemes in Westminster
Westminster's selective licensing scheme covers privately rented homes (not already licensed as HMOs) in 15 of the city's 18 wards, in force from 24 November 2025 until 23 November 2030. Separately, the borough-wide additional HMO licensing scheme (3+ occupants, 2+ households) was renewed and came into force on 31 August 2026 for five years (to about 30 August 2031).
- In force from
- 24 November 2025
- Scheme ends
- 23 November 2030
Verified 24 September 2026
Licence fees
The published fee for a new HMO licence is £1,540, and £1,540 to renew. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.
Westminster charges Mandatory and Additional HMO licences at the same rate (from 1 April 2025): £1,540 total for up to 5 bedrooms/lettings (Part A £855 + Part B £685), plus £68 per additional letting above 5. Accredited landlords (London Landlord Accreditation Scheme) get a 10% discount; an EPC rating of C gets 10% off Part B, and B or above gets 20% off Part B; registered charities housing solely vulnerable people are exempt from the fee (though they must still apply). For HMOs with more than 25 lettings, only the first 25 lettings' worth is charged at application, with the balance due after inspection. Separately, the Selective Licensing scheme (in force from 24 November 2025) costs £995 total (Part A £543 + Part B £452), with its own accreditation (10% off Part B), EPC (10-20% off Part B), charity (full exemption for vulnerable-persons accommodation), and £125 multi-leasehold discounts.
Check the current fee on the council website (westminster.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
£1,540
Additional HMO licence, up to 5 bedrooms/lettings, paid in two parts: Part A £855 on application + Part B £685 once the decision to grant is made. A further £68 per letting applies for HMOs with more than five lettings.
10% discount for accredited landlords (LLAS, NRLA, safeagent, ARLA Propertymark, RICS, UKALA); EPC rating C gets 10% off Part B, EPC B or above gets 20% off Part B; registered charities housing solely vulnerable people are exempt from the fee.
Scheme: From 31 August 2026
Checked 2 October 2026 against westminster.gov.uk
Selective licence
£995
Standard selective licence for a single privately rented property, paid in two parts: Part A £543 on application + Part B £452 once the decision to grant is made. Same fee across the 15 designated wards.
10% accredited landlord discount (£99.50, taken off Part B); EPC rating C gets 10% off Part B (£45.20), EPC B or above gets 20% off Part B (£90.40); £125 off Part B where multiple leaseholds sit in the same freehold; charities housing solely vulnerable people are exempt from the full fee.
Scheme: From 24 November 2025
Checked 2 October 2026 against westminster.gov.uk
Minimum room sizes
| Double bedroom (2 persons aged 10+) | 10.22 m² minimum floor area (national HMO space standard, SI 2018/616). |
|---|---|
| Single bedroom (1 person aged 10+) | 6.51 m² minimum floor area (national HMO space standard, SI 2018/616). |
| Room occupied by a child under 10 | 4.64 m² minimum floor area; any room below this cannot be used as sleeping accommodation at all (SI 2018/616). |
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
- Smoke alarms fitted and kept in working order on every storey used as living accommodation.
- Escape routes kept clear of obstruction, with fire doors fitted where required and maintained.
- Carbon monoxide alarms required in any room containing a solid fuel burning appliance.
- Fire-fighting equipment provided where appropriate to the property's layout and size.
Kitchen, bathroom and amenity standards
- Adequate kitchen facilities for storing, preparing and cooking food, appropriate to the number of occupiers.
- Adequate number of bathrooms and toilets for the number of occupiers sharing them.
- All shared amenities kept in good decorative repair, clean condition and proper working order.
Documents you will need
- Gas safety certificate (CP12) — Current annual gas safety record required for every gas appliance in the property.
- EICR — Electrical Installation Condition Report confirming the fixed wiring is safe, required under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020.
- EPC — Valid Energy Performance Certificate for the property; the rating also determines eligibility for Westminster's EPC-linked fee discounts.
Sources
Compiled from the council’s own published pages and documents; data reviewed September 2026. Rules and fees change, so always confirm with Westminster City Council before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.