Landlord licence Ealing: what you need, where, and what it costs
Do you need a landlord licence in Ealing? Yes if your property is an HMO anywhere in Ealing, or a single-household let in one of the 15 wards (by pre-2022 boundaries) covered by selective licensing. This page sets out every scheme Ealing Council currently runs, the fees as published, and how Ealing's rented housing compares with the rest of England and Wales, using Census 2021 figures. We last re-checked the council's pages on 21 October 2026.
Published · Updated
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Ealing landlord licensing at a glance
| Scheme | In force? | Where it applies | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selective licensing | Yes | 15 pre-2022 wards: East Acton; Southall Broadway; Southall Green; Acton Central; Dormers Wells; Greenford Broadway; Greenford Green; Hanger Hill; Hobbayne; Lady Margaret; North Greenford; Northolt Mandeville; Northolt West End; Perivale; South Acton | 1 April 2022 / 3 January 2023 (two designations) |
| Additional HMO licensing | Yes | Boroughwide, 3-4 person HMOs | 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2027; replacement consulted on to 24 September 2026 |
| Mandatory HMO licensing | Yes | All of England | Ongoing |
Sources: Ealing Council pages listed under Sources, checked 21 October 2026.
How big is the private rented sector in Ealing?
At the 2021 Census, 45,490 of Ealing's 133,657 households rented privately. That's 34.0% of households, against 20.3% across England and Wales as a whole. By number of privately renting households, Ealing ranked 11 of the 331 local authorities in England and Wales; by share it ranked 12. For comparison, 61,814 households (46.2%) owned their home and 23,382 (17.5%) rented socially.
About a third of Ealing households rent privately. Its selective scheme is defined using ward boundaries from before 2022, so a property's current ward name may not match the designation: always use the council's map.
Ealing selective licensing wards
Ealing's selective licensing runs in two designations, from 1 April 2022 and 3 January 2023, covering 15 wards as they were drawn before 2022: East Acton, Southall Broadway, Southall Green, Acton Central, Dormers Wells, Greenford Broadway, Greenford Green, Hanger Hill, Hobbayne, Lady Margaret, North Greenford, Northolt Mandeville, Northolt West End, Perivale and South Acton.
Ealing additional HMO licensing and the 2027 renewal
Additional HMO licensing has applied across the borough since 1 April 2022 and ends on 31 March 2027. Ealing consulted from 15 July to 24 September 2026 on a replacement boroughwide scheme for HMOs occupied by 3 or 4 people, which would also include converted blocks of flats that don't meet building control standards. The consultation summary says the council doesn't propose to change the current additional licensing fees.
Ealing landlord licence fees
From Ealing Council's Licensing Fees 2026-2027 schedule: a selective licence is £750 for new and renewal applications, or £675 for a self-contained flat. An additional HMO licence is £1,300. A mandatory HMO licence is a £1,000 fixed fee plus a charge by bedrooms (£500 for up to 5 bedrooms, rising to £1,000 for 20 or more), so £1,500 to £2,000 in total.
Do I need a landlord licence in Ealing? A quick check
- 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.
- 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.
- If 3 or more people from 2 or more households share facilities anywhere in Ealing, you need an additional HMO licence.
- If it's a single-household let in one of the 15 designated (pre-2022) wards, you need a selective licence.
- 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 Ealing without a licence
Ealing's selective scheme uses pre-2022 ward boundaries, which makes it easy to misjudge whether you're in scope. GOV.UK says an unlicensed HMO can lead to an unlimited fine, and councils can enforce over unlicensed selective-licensing homes, with tenants able to seek rent repayment orders. Use the council's map, and keep a record of the check.
Ealing licence conditions
GOV.UK limits licences to 5 years, and Ealing's current additional scheme ends on 31 March 2027, so HMO landlords may need to reapply under a replacement scheme. GOV.UK's standard HMO conditions include an annual gas safety certificate sent to the council, working smoke alarms and electrical safety certificates on request.
Keeping Ealing licence paperwork in order with Gaffy
With a scheme renewal on the way, Ealing landlords will be asked for their paperwork again. Gaffy holds each property's gas safety certificate, EICR and EPC with expiry dates flagged, and collects tenant repair reports through a phone link with photos. 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
Which Ealing wards need a selective licence?
15 wards by pre-2022 boundaries, including Southall Broadway, Southall Green, Acton Central, Greenford Broadway and Northolt Mandeville.
How much is an Ealing selective licence?
£750 for new and renewal applications in 2026-27, or £675 for a self-contained flat, according to the council's fee schedule.
Is all of Ealing covered for HMOs?
Yes, additional HMO licensing is boroughwide.
Why does Ealing use old ward names?
The designations were made using pre-2022 ward boundaries, so check the address on the council's map.
Will Ealing renew its additional HMO licensing?
The current scheme ends on 31 March 2027. The council consulted on a replacement boroughwide scheme until 24 September 2026.
How many people rent privately in Ealing?
At the 2021 Census, 45,490 households in Ealing rented privately, 34.0% of all households (ONS, Census 2021 table TS054).
Is this legal advice?
No. It's general information drawn from Ealing Council's published pages, checked 21 October 2026. Schemes and fees in Ealing 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
- Ealing Council, Licensing Fees 2026-2027 (PDF)
- London Property Licensing, Ealing additional licensing consultation 15 July to 24 September 2026
- Ealing Council, HMO licensing (Have Your Say)
- 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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