Do you need a landlord licence in Brent?

Whether you need a licence to let a property in Brent depends on the type of property and exactly where it is. Brent (London), like every English council, must license larger HMOs, and it can also designate areas for additional or selective licensing. Here’s what each means, what happens if you get it wrong, and how to check Brent’s current rules.

Licensing in Brent as at 25 September 2026

Brent runs selective licensing (Harlesden & Kensal Green, Dollis Hill and Willesden Green wards, from 1 August 2023 until 31 July 2028; the other 18 wards, since 1 April 2024) and additional HMO licensing (borough-wide, from 2 February 2026 until 2 February 2031), on top of mandatory HMO licensing.

Selective licensing

Designation 1

Area: Harlesden & Kensal Green, Dollis Hill and Willesden Green wards

Scheme dates: From 1 August 2023 until 31 July 2028

Fee: £640 (Part 1 £340 on application + Part 2 £300 on grant)

Designation 2

Area: The other 18 wards — every ward in Brent except Wembley Park

Scheme dates: Since 1 April 2024

Fee: £640 (Part 1 £340 on application + Part 2 £300 on grant)

Additional HMO licensing

Area: Borough-wide (the whole London Borough of Brent)

Scheme dates: From 2 February 2026 until 2 February 2031

Fee: £1,040 (Part 1 £540 on application, non-refundable + Part 2 £500 on grant)

Mandatory HMO licensing
Applies everywhere in Brent, as across England, to HMOs let to five or more people forming two or more households.

Brent says each selective designation lasts five years. Properties in Wembley Park ward do not need a selective licence.

Sources (checked 25 September 2026)

Designations and fees change. Confirm your exact address and the live fee with Brent before you apply.

The three types of licence

  • Mandatory HMO licence. Required across England for larger HMOs — typically a property let to five or more people forming two or more households who share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet. This applies in Brent regardless of any local scheme.
  • Additional HMO licence. Brent can extend HMO licensing to smaller HMOs in designated parts of its area.
  • Selective licence. Brent can require a licence for all privately rented homes — including ordinary single-family lets — within a designated area. Larger schemes need government approval, and they’re used in areas with specific housing or anti-social-behaviour concerns.

The penalties for renting unlicensed in Brent

Letting a property that needs a licence without one is a criminal offence. You risk an unlimited fine or a civil penalty of up to £40,000, a rent repayment order of up to 24 months’ rent, and a possible banning order. (Those are the limits for offences on or after 1 May 2026, when the Renters’ Rights Act raised them from £30,000 and 12 months.)

How to check Brent's current schemes

Designations change, so always confirm the live position. Search Brent’s website for “property licensing” or “landlord licensing”, check whether your postcode falls inside a designated area, and note the licence type, the boundaries and the scheme dates. If in doubt, contact Brent’s private-sector housing team before you let. The summary above was checked against Brent’s own licensing page on 25 September 2026.

Never miss a licensing deadline

LandlordReady tracks the licences and certificates each of your properties needs and warns you before they lapse — so a renewal or a new Brent scheme doesn’t catch you out.

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Frequently asked questions

Do I need a licence to rent out a property in Brent?

As at 25 September 2026, Brent runs selective licensing (Harlesden & Kensal Green, Dollis Hill and Willesden Green wards, from 1 August 2023 until 31 July 2028; the other 18 wards, since 1 April 2024) and additional HMO licensing (borough-wide, from 2 February 2026 until 2 February 2031), on top of mandatory HMO licensing. If your property is in a selective licensing area, you need a licence for any privately rented home there — including an ordinary single let — unless it is exempt or licensed as an HMO. If you let an HMO that doesn't need a mandatory licence and falls within additional licensing (borough-wide), it needs an additional HMO licence. A larger HMO (five or more people, two or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in Brent. Check your exact address on Brent's licensing page before you let.

How much does a landlord licence cost in Brent?

Brent's published fees as at 25 September 2026: Selective licence (Designation 1): £640 (Part 1 £340 on application + Part 2 £300 on grant). Selective licence (Designation 2): £640 (Part 1 £340 on application + Part 2 £300 on grant). Additional HMO licence: £1,040 (Part 1 £540 on application, non-refundable + Part 2 £500 on grant). Fees are set by the council and can change, so confirm the current figure before you apply.

What happens if I rent without a required licence in Brent?

Renting an unlicensed property that needs a licence is a criminal offence. You can face an unlimited fine or a civil penalty of up to £40,000, and a rent repayment order of up to 24 months' rent (the limits for offences on or after 1 May 2026).

Check landlord licensing in other areas.