HMO Licensing Hammersmith and Fulham: £1,466 Licence Fee Landlords Must Know

Mandatory HMO licensing is triggered when your property is occupied by 5 or more people from 2 or more separate households, regardless of the number of storeys. This national threshold has applied since October 2018, when the government removed the previous 3-storey rule. In Hammersmith and Fulham, the council also operates an Additional Licensing scheme that extends the requirement to smaller HMOs — specifically those occupied by 3 or more people from 2 or more households. This means the vast majority of shared houses in the borough require a licence, not just larger properties. If you are unsure whether your property crosses the 3-person threshold, assume it does and check with the council's Private Sector Housing team before proceeding.

What does an HMO licence cost in Hammersmith and Fulham?

The standard 5-year HMO licence fee in Hammersmith and Fulham is £1,466 for a mandatory licence. For properties falling under the Additional Licensing scheme, fees are set at £1,100 for the same 5-year period. These fees are non-refundable once the application is submitted, even if the licence is subsequently refused. The council does not currently advertise an accreditation discount for membership of landlord bodies such as the London Landlords Accreditation Scheme, though members should confirm this directly as fee structures are reviewed periodically. Licence fees are typically paid in 2 stages: a non-refundable processing fee upfront, and a balance due on issue. Budgeting for renewal is essential — a 5-year licence means costs recur, and the fee structure may increase at each renewal cycle.

How do you apply for an HMO licence in Hammersmith and Fulham?

Applications are submitted through the council's online portal at lbhf.gov.uk. You will need to create an account, complete the application form in full, and upload all required documents before payment is accepted. The processing time for a complete application is typically 8 to 12 weeks, though complex cases or properties requiring improvement notices can take considerably longer. If your property is not yet fully compliant with the required standards — for example, if it lacks adequate fire detection covering all floors — it is still possible to apply, but a licence may be granted with conditions attached. Do not delay submitting an application while remedial works are pending, as operating without a licence during that period still constitutes an offence.

What documents do you need to submit?

A complete application requires a floor plan drawn to scale showing all rooms and their dimensions, a current gas safety certificate dated within the previous 12 months, an electrical installation condition report (EICR) dated within the previous 5 years, fire alarm and emergency lighting test certificates, and evidence of planning permission if the property has been converted. You will also need to provide details of the proposed licence holder and, where applicable, a managing agent. Properties with 5 or more occupants must demonstrate a minimum room size of 6.51 square metres for a single adult — this is a national standard under the Overcrowding standards introduced in October 2018, and Hammersmith and Fulham council enforces it as part of the licence conditions. Rooms used for sleeping that fall below this threshold will trigger a condition on the licence or a refusal.

What happens if you do not have a licence?

Operating an HMO without a licence in Hammersmith and Fulham is a criminal offence under Section 72 of the Housing Act 2004. The council can prosecute through the magistrates' court, where there is no upper limit on fines, or issue a civil penalty of up to £30,000 per offence. In 2023 and 2024, Hammersmith and Fulham was among the more active London boroughs for enforcement, and the council has publicly stated a commitment to proactive inspection of unlicensed properties. Beyond the fine, tenants in an unlicensed HMO can apply to a First-tier Tribunal for a Rent Repayment Order (RRO) covering up to 12 months of rent paid during the period of non-compliance. On a property with 4 tenants each paying £800 per month, that exposure could exceed £38,400 in repayment orders alone, entirely separate from any council penalty.

What does this mean for landlords owning HMOs in the borough?

Hammersmith and Fulham operates one of the more comprehensive licensing frameworks in London. The combination of mandatory and additional licensing means that a 3-bedroom shared house occupied by 3 unrelated tenants — a common configuration across Shepherd's Bush, Fulham, and Hammersmith — will require a licence under the Additional Licensing scheme. Landlords who have owned HMOs in the borough for several years without a licence are not protected by any grandfather clause; liability is calculated from the point the property first met the licensing threshold, which in many cases predates the current scheme. Renewing landlords should also note that each licence is property-specific: a portfolio of 4 licensed HMOs requires 4 separate licences and 4 separate fee payments totalling at least £5,864 under current mandatory rates.