Hillingdon HMO Licensing Goes Borough-Wide on 24 August — and Applications Are Already Open

On 24 August 2026, Hillingdon's borough-wide additional HMO licensing scheme comes into force. From that date, operating a licensable HMO in the borough without a licence is an offence — and under the Renters' Rights Act 2025, councils can issue civil penalties of up to £40,000 for licensing offences.

Unlike most licensing deadlines, this one is already live in practice: applications opened on 20 May 2026, and the application deadline is 23 August.

Who the scheme covers

Additional licensing picks up the HMOs that mandatory licensing misses. In Hillingdon that means most:

• Shared houses and flat-shares with 3–4 occupants forming more than one household
• Bedsit-style HMOs

Section 257 converted blocks are excluded. The scheme covers the whole borough — every UB postcode, plus the HA4/HA6 fringes — and runs for five years, to 23 August 2031.

If you already hold a mandatory HMO licence (5+ occupants), this scheme doesn't change your property — but if you've been under that threshold, you're likely in scope now.

The fee

• £1,401 per property, split Part A £934 / Part B £467
• 10% discount for accredited landlords and agents — £140 back for accreditation many landlords already hold, so check before you pay

The deadline behind the deadline

A licence application isn't just a form and a fee. Every application needs evidence of:

• A current gas safety certificate (CP12)
• A valid EICR (electrical safety report)
• A fire risk assessment

If any of those have lapsed, you can't complete your application. Gas Safe engineers, electricians and fire risk assessors in UB postcodes won't get less busy as August approaches — the practical deadline for booking inspections is now.

What's at stake

Beyond the £40,000 maximum civil penalty introduced by the Renters' Rights Act 2025, unlicensed landlords face Rent Repayment Orders — tenants can reclaim up to 12 months of rent. Against a £1,401 fee, being caught unlicensed is the most expensive way imaginable to save money.

Third borough this summer

Hillingdon is the middle rung of London's summer licensing ladder: Harrow's Greenhill and Marlborough wards go live 6 July, Hillingdon follows 24 August, and Croydon's renewed scheme plus Harrow's Wealdstone wards land 1 September. If you let in outer London, assume your borough is next until you've checked.

Check your position in two minutes

We track Hillingdon's dates, fees and required certificates on one page — and if you need a gas certificate, EICR or fire risk assessment before you apply, we'll match you with vetted local providers.

See Hillingdon's licensing requirements →

Get quotes for gas safety, EICR or FRA →