Westminster City Council has formally designated a renewed borough-wide Additional HMO Licensing Scheme. Designated on 21 April 2026 following a Cabinet decision of 16 March 2026, the scheme commences 31 August 2026 and runs until 30 August 2031. All licensable HMOs in Westminster must hold a valid licence from that date. Civil penalties for unlicensed operation now reach ?40,000 from 1 May 2026.
Westminster City Council has renewed its borough-wide Additional Licensing Scheme for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). Westminster City Council confirmed the renewal of its borough-wide Additional Licensing Scheme for HMOs following a full public consultation and a Cabinet decision made on 16 March 2026. The scheme was formally designated on 21 April 2026 and will come into effect on 31 August 2026, running until 30 August 2031. This timetable meets the legal requirement for councils to give three months' notice before a new licensing designation begins.
The renewed scheme covers HMOs that fall outside the scope of mandatory national HMO licensing (i.e., properties with fewer than five occupants forming two or more households). The Additional Licensing Scheme aims to improve housing standards, protect tenants, and support responsible landlords. Evidence gathered during the review of the existing scheme and during the consultation highlighted the continued need for targeted licensing to address issues such as poor property conditions, ineffective management, unlicensed properties and safety concerns in certain types of HMOs.
The enforcement context has materially changed with the commencement of the Renters' Rights Act 2025 on 1 May 2026. Operating a licensable HMO without a valid licence is a criminal offence. If a landlord fails to obtain a licence when required, the council may issue a civil penalty of up to ?40,000 from 1 May 2026, and the landlord may be prosecuted, which can result in an unlimited fine. This represents a significant increase from the pre-May 2026 maximum of ?30,000.
The renewed Additional Licensing Scheme is separate from the Selective Licensing Scheme introduced in 15 wards on 24 November 2025. Westminster landlords with non-HMO properties in selective licensing wards should also ensure compliance with that scheme. Current Additional HMO licences will remain valid until their individual expiry dates. Landlords can submit renewal applications up to three months before their licence expires, ensuring continuity and compliance.
Action required
HMO landlords in Westminster must ensure they hold a valid licence by 31 August 2026 under the renewed scheme. Current licence holders should check expiry dates and submit renewal applications up to three months before expiry. New HMO landlords entering the Westminster market must apply before 31 August 2026. Note that the maximum civil penalty for operating without a licence is now ?40,000 (from 1 May 2026) under the Renters' Rights Act 2025.
Effective
2026-08-31
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