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Property Licensing Guide for Ealing
Ealing currently operates selective licensing and additional licensing; mandatory HMO licensing applies everywhere. Last checked: 20 October 2026.
This free guide will provide you with the key details regarding what licensing requirements are necessary in this area and how to apply for a licence.
New to this? Read our overview: What is selective licensing?
Ealing is in the London registration window for the PRS database, which opens on 15 July 2027: see when landlords in London have to register on the PRS database.
Ealing Property Licensing Schemes
To check whether an Ealing property is licensed, use the council’s postcode checker to see which scheme applies. Ealing Council also publishes a public register of licensed properties.
Is manual compliance causing a headache for your agency? At Kamma, we specialise in automating licensing compliance for agents across the UK. If you need any assistance in getting your property portfolio compliant, find out how we can help letting agents here.
Not sure whether an Ealing property needs a licence? Kamma's free checker covers selective, additional and HMO schemes.
Check an Ealing property →What are the licensing requirements for Ealing?
Mandatory licensing in Ealing
Mandatory HMO licensing applies across Ealing (and all of England) to larger HMOs. These are properties occupied by five or more people forming more than one household, including:
- Shared houses and flats occupied by students and young professionals.
- Properties converted into bedsits with some shared facilities.
- Properties converted into a mix of self-contained and non-self-contained accommodation.
Do I need an additional property licence in Ealing?
Additional licensing requires smaller HMOs in a designated area to be licensed. That means a privately rented property with three or more people forming more than one household.
Ealing operates additional HMO licensing. The current designation is set out below.
Ealing ran a consultation on additional licensing, which closed on 24 September 2026. The scheme set out above is unchanged by it.
Do I need a selective licence in Ealing?
Selective licensing requires almost all privately rented properties in a designated area to be licensed, regardless of the number of occupants.
Ealing operates selective licensing. The current designation is set out below.
Additional licensing: 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2027, borough-wide (all 24 wards).
Selective licensing: 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2027, covering East Acton, North Acton, Norwood Green, Southall Broadway, Southall Green, Southall West and Southfield.
Selective licensing: 3 January 2023 to 2 January 2028, covering Central Greenford, Dormers Wells, Ealing Common, East Acton, Greenford Broadway, Hanger Hill, Lady Margaret, North Acton, North Greenford, North Hanwell, Northolt Mandeville, Northolt West End, Perivale, South Acton and Southall Broadway.
Mandatory HMO licensing: in force since 2006 for HMOs of five or more people forming more than one household.
How do I apply for an Ealing selective or HMO licence?
Selective, additional and mandatory HMO licence applications go to Ealing Council through its online licensing service. The council takes the fee in two parts: Part A when you apply and Part B when the licence is ready to issue. Or let Kamma’s expert team process the application for you.
How much does a licence cost?
Licence fees
| Licence | Fee |
|---|---|
| Mandatory HMO licence | £1,500 (New application (up to 5 bedrooms)) |
Fees as read from the council’s own published schedule on 20 July 2026, not independently re-checked since; subject to change. See the council’s fee page for full schedules, payment stages and discounts.
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Ealing Property Licensing FAQs
What licensing schemes does Ealing operate?
Ealing Council operates three licensing schemes. Additional HMO licensing covers the whole borough from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2027. Selective licensing runs in two designations: 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2027, and 3 January 2023 to 2 January 2028. Mandatory HMO licensing has applied since 2006 to HMOs of five or more people.
Do all properties in Ealing need a licence?
Not every Ealing property needs a licence. In the selective licensing wards, most privately rented homes need one. Anywhere in Ealing, an HMO of three or four people needs an additional licence, and an HMO of five or more needs a mandatory licence.
What if my property doesn't have a licence?
Operating a property in Ealing that requires a licence without one can bring civil penalties of up to £40,000 per property for offences on or after 1 May 2026. The landlord also risks a rent repayment order of up to 24 months’ rent. A letting agent who manages the property or collects the rent commits the offence too and can be fined separately.
Can letting agents apply on behalf of landlords?
Yes. Letting agents can apply for property licences on behalf of landlords in Ealing, and many manage the full process for selective, additional and mandatory HMO licences.
How do I apply for a Ealing property licence?
Apply through Ealing Council’s online licensing service, or use a managed service such as Kamma. Ealing’s schedule of fees lists £750 for selective licensing (£250 at application, £500 when the licence is ready), £1,300 for additional HMO licensing and from £1,500 for mandatory HMO licensing.
Why did Ealing introduce selective licensing?
Ealing Council says its selective licensing aims to improve housing conditions by eliminating poor standards of management in the private rented sector, and to reduce anti-social behaviour. The schemes started on 1 April 2022 and 3 January 2023.
Why did Ealing introduce additional licensing?
Ealing’s additional HMO licensing covers HMOs of three or four people that the national mandatory scheme leaves out. It runs across all 24 wards from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2027, and the council consulted on renewing it from 15 July to 24 September 2026.
What are the conditions to obtain an HMO licence in Ealing?
Ealing Council’s HMO licence conditions set standards for fire safety, amenities, room sizes and management for HMOs in Ealing.
About Ealing
Ealing is a West London borough of 24 wards. Its additional HMO licensing scheme covers all 24 and runs to 31 March 2027. Its selective licensing schemes include Southall Broadway, Southall Green, East Acton, Greenford Broadway, Northolt Mandeville and Perivale. Ealing Council says selective licensing aims to improve housing conditions by eliminating poor standards of management in private rented homes. From 15 July to 24 September 2026 it consulted on renewing additional licensing.
Licensing Enforcement in Ealing
Since April 2025 Ealing Council has issued 28 civil penalties for unlicensed HMOs and brought 56 unlicensed properties into licensing, according to the council’s consultation announcement of 28 July 2026. Letting a property without the required licence risks prosecution and civil penalties of up to £40,000 per property for offences on or after 1 May 2026. The landlord can also face a rent repayment order of up to 24 months’ rent. Where a letting agent manages the property or collects the rent, the agent commits the offence too and can be fined in its own right.
Neighbouring borough guides
Licensing schemes stop at the borough boundary. A property one street over can need a different licence. Guides for the neighbouring boroughs:
Applying for a property licence in Ealing
A Ealing licence application is made to the council on the council’s own form, with the documents that council asks for. Requirements differ between councils and change when a designation changes, which is most of why an application that was correct last year is not necessarily correct now.
Letting agents can have Kamma do it. We prepare and submit mandatory HMO, additional HMO and selective licence applications in Ealing and in every other UK council area, collect the supporting documents from you or from your landlord, and monitor the application through to approval. The licensing application service page sets out what we need and what happens when a council rejects a submission.
Landlords should speak to their letting agent, who can instruct us directly.
