HMO licensing in Brent: fees, additional & selective licensing
Written by Sam Allcock · Last updated 23 August 2026 · Facts checked against Brent Council's own published pages on the date above
Brent's new Additional Licensing scheme took effect on 2 February 2026, requiring a licence for any privately rented property with 3 or 4 people forming 2 or more households (Brent Council, checked 23 August 2026).
From that date, both mandatory and additional HMO licences cost £1,040 plus £540 (Part 1) plus £500 (Part 2), up from £840 + £540 + £300 previously - and Brent also runs selective licensing across all but one ward.
Short on time?Let us prepare your Brent HMO application - fixed fee, and we always show you the free official route first.
Get it done for you →This page sets out Brent's own published fees and schemes - for the wider system, see our HMO & landlord licensing hub, and for who needs a licence nationally, see do I need an HMO licence?
This is general information sourced from Brent Council's own website, not legal advice - always confirm current fees and ward boundaries with the council directly before you apply.
What's different about HMO licensing in Brent?
Brent's additional licensing scheme is brand new at the time of writing - it came into force on 2 February 2026, with applications accepted from 17 November 2025, and fee rises applied at the same time across mandatory, additional and selective licences (Brent Council, checked 23 August 2026).
Brent's selective licensing coverage is close to borough-wide: one designation covers Harlesden & Kensal Green, Dollis Hill and Willesden Green wards from 1 August 2023, and a second covers all other 18 wards except Wembley Park from 1 April 2024.
What does an HMO licence cost in Brent?
Brent's fee structure changed on 2 February 2026, with both mandatory and additional HMO licences now costing more than before (Brent Council, checked 23 August 2026).
Extra £100 if you need help completing the forms; £40 discount for accredited landlords. Read Brent Council's property licensing page →
✓ Checked against Brent Council, 23 August 2026
Does Brent run additional or selective licensing?
| Scheme | Status in Brent |
|---|---|
| Mandatory HMO licensing | Borough-wide, applies to every large HMO (5+ occupants, 2+ households) |
| Additional licensing | New scheme from 2 February 2026, covers 3-4 person HMOs; applications accepted from 17 November 2025 |
| Selective licensing | Harlesden & Kensal Green, Dollis Hill, Willesden Green from 1 August 2023; all other 18 wards except Wembley Park from 1 April 2024 |
With selective licensing covering all but one ward, most privately rented Brent properties need some form of licence - check Wembley Park specifically if that's where your property sits.
How do you apply for an HMO licence in Brent?
You apply through Brent's online service, which handles mandatory, additional and selective applications (Brent Council, checked 23 August 2026).
- Check your property's occupant/household numbers and ward against the current scheme boundaries.
- Register or log in at brent-self.achieveservice.com.
- Complete the application - the council says HMO applications take around 30 minutes, selective around 15.
- Pay Part 1 of the fee on submission.
- Pay Part 2 once the council decides to grant the licence.
How long does a Brent HMO licence take?
Brent Council's pages reviewed for this guide give completion times for the application form itself (around 15-30 minutes) but didn't set out a fixed decision timescale (checked 23 August 2026) - confirm current turnaround with the council's PRS licensing team at prslicensing@brent.gov.uk.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an HMO licence cost in Brent from 2026?
From 2 February 2026: £1,040 + £540 + £500, plus £25 per habitable room above 5, for both mandatory and additional HMO licences.
When did Brent's additional licensing scheme start?
The new scheme came into force on 2 February 2026, covering properties with 3 or 4 people forming 2 or more households; applications were accepted from 17 November 2025.
Does selective licensing cover my Brent property?
Almost certainly - selective licensing covers all 21 Brent wards except Wembley Park, under two designations dating from 2023 and 2024.
Where do I apply for a Brent HMO or selective licence?
Online through Brent Council's self-service portal at brent-self.achieveservice.com.
apply for licence is an independent guide and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the London Borough of Brent, GOV.UK or any government body. This page is general information, not legal advice - for anything specific to your property, contact Brent Council's PRS licensing team directly.