HMO drawings · London Borough of Brent
HMO drawings in Brent, from £945 fixed
Brent's Article 4 direction has required planning permission for small HMOs in its mapped areas since 1 November 2022, and the council says it wants to keep larger homes for families. Since 2 February 2026 a three or four person shared house also needs an additional licence, wherever it is in the borough.
Householder application fee, paid to your council at submission.
Plus the Planning Portal's own charge if the application goes through the Portal: up to £149 including VAT, depending on the application type, and some types have none (source).
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What Brent Council asks of a HMO conversion
From the council's Article 4 direction: Residential (C3) to Houses in Multiple Occupation (C4) (adopted 3 February 2022 (confirmed), in effect 1 November 2022).
- Brent confirmed an Article 4 direction on 3 February 2022 requiring planning permission for a change from a house (C3) to a small HMO (C4); it came into effect on 1 November 2022 in the locations shown on the overview map. (source, checked 25 October 2026)
- The council says it wants HMOs to provide a suitable quality of accommodation and to ensure a reasonable amount of larger homes for families remains available. (source, checked 25 October 2026)
- Brent's additional licence scheme came into force on 2 February 2026 for privately rented properties occupied by three or four people forming two or more households, and also covers section 257 HMOs and HMOs in purpose-built blocks of three or more flats. (source, checked 25 October 2026)
- Five or more people in two or more households need a mandatory HMO licence, while other privately rented homes of up to two unrelated people or one family need a selective licence unless they are in Wembley Park ward. (source, checked 25 October 2026)
What Brent HMO conversion drawings have to show
Brent's direction is drawn on a map rather than across the whole borough, so the first step is to place your address on the council's overview map. Inside the mapped area, a house-to-HMO change needs a planning application, and the council's stated aim of keeping larger family homes means the application has to explain why this house suits shared living.
The proposed plans show each bedroom with its area and occupancy, the shared kitchen and bathrooms, and storage for bins and bikes. Since 2 February 2026 a three or four person HMO also needs an additional licence, so we keep the same room numbering on the planning drawings and the licence plan, and the two applications describe one layout.
Brent: 879 householder decisions
What it costs in Brent
- HMO drawings: from £795 drawings + £150 survey (£945 total), plus £610 to Brent Council.
- Where a change of use application is required.
HMO drawings across London · Brent planning rules · every price
Answers
Brent HMO conversion questions
Does all of Brent need planning permission for a small HMO?
Does a three-person HMO in Brent need a licence?
Why does Brent restrict HMO conversions?
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