Like every London borough, Westminster enforces the Housing Act 2004 mandatory HMO licensing regime, and may operate its own additional licensing scheme on top of national rules. Requirements, fees, and processing times vary by council — we keep track of the current position so you don't have to.
We prepare your complete application, submit it directly to the Westminster council team, and handle all follow-up correspondence until your licence is granted.
Additional licensing: borough-wide
Selective licensing: partial — 15 of 18 wards — see how selective licensing works
Scheme update: The current additional licensing scheme runs to 30 August 2026, with a renewed scheme approved to follow from 31 August 2026 to 30 August 2031. Selective licensing runs 24 November 2025 – 23 November 2030.
Council fees are reviewed periodically and vary by property size — we'll confirm the current rate for your property before you commit.
For HMOs with 3–4 tenants in boroughs requiring additional licensing.
For properties with 5+ tenants from 2+ households anywhere in England.
You will need a mandatory HMO licence if your property is rented to 5 or more people from 2 or more households, regardless of borough. Westminster operates a borough-wide additional HMO licensing scheme, covering smaller HMOs (3+ tenants from 2+ households) that fall below the mandatory threshold.
Our service fee is £300+VAT for an Additional HMO Licence and £500+VAT for a Mandatory HMO Licence. On top of that, Westminster's council charges its own fee separately: the mandatory HMO licence fee is £1,540 for up to 5 lettings, plus £68 per additional letting (up to 25); the additional HMO licence fee is £1,540 total (same fee structure as mandatory), with discounts for accreditation and higher EPC ratings; the selective licence fee is £995 total, with similar discounts available. Council fees are reviewed periodically, so we'll always confirm the current rate before you proceed.
Council processing times vary between 8-16 weeks depending on the borough. We submit your complete, fully-compliant application within days of receiving your information.
Operating an unlicensed HMO is a criminal offence anywhere in London. Under the Renters' Rights Act, councils can now impose civil penalties of up to £40,000 per offence, and tenants can claim back up to 24 months' rent via a Rent Repayment Order.
Expert HMO licence applications across every London borough.
Contact us today. We respond within 48 hours and handle everything from there.
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