Barnet vs Harrow — Landlord Licensing Compared

Side-by-side comparison of selective and additional HMO licensing in Barnet and Harrow. Reference data from each council's own pages and GOV.UK.

North-west London neighbours often compared for HMO conversions.

Barnet (Greater London)

  • Selective licensing: No scheme confirmed. Not yet independently verified — check the council page.
  • Additional HMO licensing: City-wide scheme in force. Barnet states it has adopted a borough-wide additional licensing scheme which applies to smaller HMOs not covered by mandatory licensing — HMOs occupied by 3 or more people in 2 or more households. It also applies to certain buildings converted into self-contained flats that do not meet the Building Regulations 1991 or later, where the building is 3 or more storeys, has at least 3 flats, all flats are privately rented and the building and flats are under the same ownership or control.
  • Council licensing page: https://www.barnet.gov.uk/housing/private-housing/property-licensing/what-are-houses-multiple-occupation-hmos
  • Council HMO page: https://www.barnet.gov.uk/housing/private-housing/property-licensing/hmo-licence-application/apply-hmo-licence/houses
  • Full reference page: https://letsentry.co.uk/council/barnet

Harrow (Greater London)

  • Selective licensing: Designated areas only. Not yet independently verified — check the council page.
  • Additional HMO licensing: Status not yet verified. Not yet independently verified — check the council page.
  • Council licensing page: https://www.harrow.gov.uk/licences/selective-licensing
  • Council HMO page: https://www.harrow.gov.uk/licences/licences-houses-multiple-occupation-hmos/2
  • Full reference page: https://letsentry.co.uk/council/harrow

Mandatory HMO licensing applies in both areas: any HMO occupied by 5 or more people forming 2 or more households needs a licence anywhere in England.

Sources: - legislation.gov.uk — Housing Act 2004 — https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/34/contents - GOV.UK — House in multiple occupation (HMO) licence — https://www.gov.uk/house-in-multiple-occupation-licence

Last verified: 2026-06-28. Reference data only — always check each council's own page before applying.