Brent Landlords Face New HMO Licensing Scheme Enforcement​

Key Points

• A new additional landlord licensing scheme came into force in the London borough of Brent on Monday, 2 February 2026.
• The scheme extends licensing requirements to all Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), including shared houses and flats occupied by three or four people.
• Licensing now applies to most private rented homes across Brent, covering smaller HMOs that were previously exempt.
• Brent operates three distinct landlord licensing schemes: Mandatory HMO licensing (for HMOs with five or more people from two or more households), Additional HMO licensing (for smaller HMOs with three or four people, multi-occupied flats in purpose-built blocks, and Section 257 HMOs), and Selective licensing (borough-wide for properties with a single household or two unrelated people, excluding Wembley Park ward).
• Wembley Park ward is excluded from Selective licensing due to its high proportion of new housing and low levels of anti-social behaviour.
• The schemes aim to improve housing standards, protect tenants, and ensure landlords meet legal responsibilities.
• Councillor Fleur Donnelly-Jackson, Brent Cabinet Member for Housing, emphasised that everyone deserves a safe, secure, and well-maintained home, with landlords required to meet clear legal standards.
• Unlicensed landlords are breaking the law, and Brent Council’s enforcement team is using intelligence-led investigations and data analysis to identify non-compliant operators.
• Brent is one of the leading local authorities in the country for licensing enforcement.
• Penalties for non-compliance include prosecution in the Magistrates’ Court, civil penalties up to £30,000 per offence, rent repayment orders, and restrictions on future lettings.

Brent, London (North London News) February 3, 2026 – A new additional landlord licensing scheme has come into force across the London borough of Brent, extending regulatory oversight to thousands of private rented properties and issuing stark warnings to landlords who fail to comply. The initiative targets Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), shared houses, and flats with three or four occupants, marking a significant expansion of licensing requirements for most private rented homes in the area. Council officials have stressed the scheme’s role in elevating housing standards and safeguarding tenants amid rising concerns over substandard rentals.

What Is the New Licensing Scheme in Brent?

The additional HMO licensing scheme, activated on Monday, 2 February 2026, broadens the scope beyond existing regulations to encompass smaller shared accommodations. As detailed in the council’s official announcement, this extends licensing to HMOs occupied by three or four people from two or more households, including multi-occupied flats in purpose-built blocks and so-called ‘Section 257 HMOs’. These properties, often overlooked in prior frameworks, now fall under mandatory scrutiny to ensure compliance with safety and management standards.

Brent now operates a trio of licensing schemes to cover virtually all private rented sectors. Mandatory HMO licensing applies to larger properties housing five or more individuals from two or more households. Selective licensing, meanwhile, blankets the borough – save for Wembley Park ward – targeting even single-household rentals or those shared by two unrelated people. The Wembley exclusion stems from the ward’s abundance of modern housing stock and minimal anti-social behaviour issues, allowing resources to focus elsewhere.

Why Was Wembley Park Ward Excluded from Selective Licensing?

The decision to exempt Wembley Park from Selective licensing reflects targeted policy-making based on local conditions. The area boasts a high proportion of new housing developments, coupled with notably low incidences of anti-social behaviour, making borough-wide application unnecessary there. This carve-out ensures the scheme hones in on higher-risk zones without overburdening compliant, modern estates.

How Do Brent’s Three Licensing Schemes Differ?

Understanding the distinctions is crucial for landlords to secure the correct licence and avoid pitfalls. Mandatory HMO licensing governs the largest shared homes with five or more occupants from multiple households, enforcing baseline safety protocols. Additional HMO licensing, the newest addition, steps in for three- or four-person setups, purpose-built flat shares, and Section 257 HMOs – a category often involving converted buildings.

Selective licensing casts the widest net, borough-wide except Wembley Park, capturing single-family lets or pairs of unrelated sharers. As the council advises, verifying the precise licence type for each property is vital, given overlaps and the risk of mismatched applications leading to enforcement.

What Role Do These Schemes Play in Tenant Protection?

According to Brent Council, these measures are pivotal in upholding housing quality and tenant welfare. They compel landlords to adhere to legal duties on maintenance, safety, and management, fostering a uniform benchmark across the private rented sector. By mandating licences, the authority aims to weed out rogue operators, elevate subpar dwellings, and mitigate hazards like poor repairs or overcrowding.

Councillor Fleur Donnelly-Jackson, Brent Cabinet Member for Housing, underscored this mission:

“Everyone deserves to live in a safe, secure and well-maintained home. With this new scheme now in effect, all landlords in Brent must meet clear legal standards for the letting and management of their properties, ensuring consistent standards across the private rented sector.”

Her statement highlights the human stakes, positioning licensing as a bulwark against exploitation.

What Did Councillor Donnelly-Jackson Say About Enforcement?

The councillor issued a direct call to action for landlords, warning of rigorous oversight.

“Landlords operating without a licence are breaking the law,”

she stated.

“Our enforcement team is actively working across the borough, using intelligence-led investigations and data analysis to identify those who are failing to comply.”

She further touted Brent’s prowess in this domain:

“Brent is one of the leading local authorities in the country for licensing enforcement and any landlord who is not licensed must apply immediately to avoid enforcement action.”

This proactive stance signals no leniency for delays.

What Penalties Face Non-Compliant Landlords?

Consequences for operating without the requisite licence are severe and multi-faceted. Offenders risk prosecution in the Magistrates’ Court, alongside civil penalties reaching £30,000 per offence. Additional repercussions include rent repayment orders – forcing landlords to refund tenants – and curbs on future lettings, potentially barring new tenancies.

These sanctions underscore the council’s zero-tolerance approach, designed to deter evasion and recoup public costs from non-compliance.

When Does the Scheme Take Effect and How Can Landlords Apply?

The scheme launched precisely on Monday, 2 February 2026, leaving no grace period for existing arrangements. Landlords are urged to apply forthwith via Brent Council’s designated portals, matching their property to the appropriate scheme. Delays invite the enforcement net, already cast wide through data-driven probes.

Why Is Brent Leading in Licensing Enforcement Nationally?

Brent’s reputation as a frontrunner stems from sophisticated tactics like intelligence-led operations and analytics. This edge enables swift identification of violators, setting a template for other councils. The borough’s layered schemes – mandatory, additional, and selective – form a comprehensive web, addressing everything from sprawling HMOs to modest sharers.

How Will This Impact Brent’s Private Rented Sector?

For tenants, the ripple effects promise safer abodes and empowered recourse against neglect. Landlords, particularly those in HMO-heavy areas, face upfront costs for licences but gain legitimacy and reduced liability. The borough-wide thrust, minus Wembley Park, targets hotspots of concern, potentially stabilising rents and boosting property values through standardised upkeep.

As reported in the initial coverage from Brent Council’s press release, the scheme’s immediacy – effective 2 February 2026 – amplifies urgency. No secondary media attributions emerged in this breaking development, but the council’s verbatim details ensure fidelity to the source.

What Broader Context Shapes Brent’s Housing Policies?

Brent, a diverse North London borough, grapples with high rental demand amid housing shortages. Schemes like this align with national drives for better standards, echoing initiatives in neighbouring authorities. By fortifying enforcement, Brent not only protects vulnerable renters but also curbs anti-social behaviour linked to poor management.

Councillor Donnelly-Jackson’s full remarks encapsulate the ethos: clear standards, active pursuit of rogues, and national leadership. Landlords ignoring this face not just fines but reputational hits in a scrutinised market.