Verified · 6 July 2026
Westminster: landlord licensing, explained and verified
Every English council sets its own additional and selective licensing on top of the national HMO rules. This is the current position in Westminster, verified on 6 July 2026. Check any postcode free in 10 seconds with the licence checker.
Mandatory HMO licensing in Westminster
The national rule applies everywhere in England: a house in multiple occupation with 5 or more occupants forming 2 or more households must be licensed. In Westminster, the standard licence fee is around £1540. Letting a licensable HMO without a licence risks a civil penalty of up to £30,000 or an unlimited fine.
Additional licensing in Westminster
Westminster runs additional HMO licensing, which extends licensing to smaller HMOs. The scheme runs 30/08/2021 to 29/08/2026, applies from 3+ occupants, fee from £1540. Area: Whole of the City of Westminster. If you let a shared house here below the mandatory threshold, check whether it falls inside the designation.
Selective licensing in Westminster
Westminster runs selective licensing, which covers all privately rented homes in the designated area, regardless of size or occupancy. The scheme runs 24/11/2025 to 23/11/2030, fee from £995. Area: 15 of Westminster's 18 wards (excluding Pimlico South, St James', and Vincent Square). A single rented flat or house inside the area needs a licence.
Upcoming licensing changes in Westminster
The current Additional HMO Licensing scheme expires on 29/08/2026. A renewed Additional HMO Licensing scheme will come into force on 31/08/2026 and run for five years. Applications for this scheme will open from 01/06/2026. A Selective Licensing scheme is approved and will become mandatory from 24/11/2025, running until 23/11/2030. Applications for Selective Licences will open from 01/10/2025.
What getting it wrong costs
Letting an unlicensed property that needed a licence carries civil penalties of up to £30,000 per property (up to £40,000 for some offences under the Renters’ Rights Act), rent repayment orders of up to 24 months of rent, and you cannot serve a valid Section 21 notice while unlicensed. “I didn’t know” is not a defence.
How fresh is this page?
This page was last verified on 6 July 2026, and we keep it current as schemes and fees change. Rules and fees change (most councils revise fees each April), so always confirm with the council directly before applying.
Licensing in other councils
Every English council sets its own schemes. West Northamptonshire · West Oxfordshire · West Suffolk · Westmorland and Furness · Wigan · Wiltshire · or browse all councils A to Z.
Letting in Westminster? Know where every property stands.
SUCASA tracks licensing, gas, EICR, EPC, alarms and deposit protection per property, alerts you before anything expires, and warns you when Westminster changes its rules. Free for your first property.
Check what your properties needFAQ
Do I need an HMO licence in Westminster?
Any HMO with 5+ occupants forming 2+ households needs a mandatory licence. Westminster also runs additional licensing, so smaller HMOs (from 3+ occupants) may need one too.
Does Westminster have selective licensing?
Yes. Selective licensing covers all privately rented homes in the designated area, currently running until 23/11/2030. Check whether your property's ward is inside the designation.
How much is an HMO licence in Westminster?
The standard mandatory HMO licence fee in Westminster is around £1540. Fees are often multi-part or per-bedroom and usually change each April, so confirm on the council page before applying.
How is this information kept up to date?
This data was last verified on 6 July 2026, and we keep it current as schemes and fees change. Landlords on SUCASA get alerted the moment rules change.
Westminster council licensing pages · gov.uk HMO licensing · All councils A to Z