Landlord licence Brent: what you need, where, and what it costs

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Brent landlord licensing at a glance

Sources: Brent Council pages listed under Sources, checked 21 October 2026.

How big is the private rented sector in Brent?

At the 2021 Census, 42,726 of Brent's 118,612 households rented privately. That's 36.0% of households, against 20.3% across England and Wales as a whole. By number of privately renting households, Brent ranked 15 of the 331 local authorities in England and Wales; by share it ranked 9. For comparison, 45,593 households (38.4%) owned their home and 27,876 (23.5%) rented socially.

More than a third of Brent households rent privately. Between its two selective designations and its boroughwide HMO scheme, only single-household lets in Wembley Park fall outside licensing.

Brent selective licensing

Designation 1 started on 1 August 2023 and covers Harlesden & Kensal Green, Dollis Hill and Willesden Green. Designation 2 started on 1 April 2024 and covers all the other 18 wards except Wembley Park.

Brent additional HMO licensing from February 2026

A boroughwide additional HMO scheme started on 2 February 2026. It covers HMOs with 3 or 4 people from 2 or more households, section 257 HMOs (certain converted blocks), and HMOs in purpose-built blocks.

Applying for a Brent licence: costs and help

Brent's fees reward planning. An additional HMO licence costs £1,040 when new but £940 on renewal, so apply to renew before your current licence lapses. Accreditation through the London Landlord Accreditation Scheme (LLAS) takes £40 off, and Brent offers an assisted application service for £100 if you'd rather not fill the forms in yourself. Mandatory HMO licences start at £1,040 plus £25 for each habitable room over five. Brent's additional scheme also covers section 257 HMOs, which are certain converted blocks of flats, and HMOs in purpose-built blocks. GOV.UK says each HMO needs its own licence, and conditions can be appealed to the First-tier Tribunal.

Brent landlord licence fees

As published by the council: selective £640 (£340 plus £300). Additional HMO £1,040 new (£540 plus £500) or £940 renewal. Mandatory HMO £1,040 new plus £25 per habitable room over 5. LLAS accreditation saves £40, and an assisted application service costs £100.

Do I need a landlord licence in Brent? A quick check

1. Count the people and households living in the property. A household is a single person, or members of the same family living together, including couples.
2. If 5 or more people from 2 or more households share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet, you need a mandatory HMO licence wherever you are in England.
3. If 3 or 4 people from 2 or more households share facilities anywhere in Brent, you need an additional HMO licence.
4. If it's a single-household let anywhere in Brent except Wembley Park, you need a selective licence.
5. If none of these apply, you don't need a property licence, but every other landlord duty (gas safety, electrical safety, EPC, deposit protection, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms) still does.

Letting in Brent without a licence

With selective licensing in 21 wards and a new boroughwide HMO scheme since February 2026, very few Brent lets fall outside licensing. GOV.UK says an unlicensed HMO can mean an unlimited fine, and councils can enforce against unlicensed selective-licensing homes, with tenants able to apply for rent repayment orders. Outside Wembley Park, assume a licence is required.

Brent licence conditions

GOV.UK caps licences at 5 years. Brent's mandatory HMO fee rises by £25 for each habitable room over five. GOV.UK's standard HMO conditions include sending the council an updated gas safety certificate each year, maintaining smoke alarms and providing electrical safety certificates on request.

Keeping Brent licence paperwork in order with Gaffy

Brent landlords often hold several licences at once. Gaffy keeps each property's gas safety certificate, EICR and EPC with its own expiry dates flagged, and tenants report repairs via a phone link with photos, building a dated record for each address. It's £12 a month for up to 5 properties, plus £4 a month for each extra property, with the first month free, and we'll set your properties up for you. We don't apply for licences.

FAQ

Does Wembley Park need a selective licence?

No. Wembley Park is the one Brent ward outside selective licensing.

How much is a Brent selective licence?

£640 (£340 plus £300), as published by the council.

When did Brent's additional HMO licensing start?

2 February 2026, boroughwide.

Can Brent help me apply?

The council offers an assisted application service for £100.

Is it cheaper to renew a Brent HMO licence?

Yes. An additional HMO licence is £1,040 new but £940 on renewal, as published by the council.

Does Brent licensing cover flats in purpose-built blocks?

Yes. The additional scheme from 2 February 2026 includes HMOs in purpose-built blocks and section 257 HMOs.

How many people rent privately in Brent?

At the 2021 Census, 42,726 households in Brent rented privately, 36.0% of all households (ONS, Census 2021 table TS054).

Is this legal advice?

No. It's general information drawn from Brent Council's published pages, checked 21 October 2026. Schemes and fees in Brent can change, so confirm with the council before you let or apply.

Other landlord rules

• Gas Safety Certificate for Landlords: Rules, Cost and Renewal
• EICR for Landlords: When You Need One, How Often and What C1, C2, C3 and FI Mean
• Landlord Compliance Checklist UK 2026 (Free Printable PDF)
• EPC Rules for Landlords in England and Wales: Minimum Rating, Expiry and Penalties
• Deposit Protection for Landlords: The 30-Day Rule and Prescribed Information
• Pricing
• Gas safety certificate expiry calculator

Sources

• Brent Council, property licensing
• ONS, Census 2021, TS054 Tenure, via Nomis
• GOV.UK, House in multiple occupation licence
• GOV.UK, Selective licensing in the private rented sector: a guide for local authorities

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