Key finding: Additional licensing covers smaller HMOs; separate Article 4 directions restrict C3-to-C4 conversions. Verify the exact property, exemptions, any future scheme amendments and planning status before acting.
What are the local licensing rules?
Ealing Council states that additional licensing covers qualifying smaller HMOs occupied by three or four people.
| Smaller HMO test | 3–4 people forming more than one household in a qualifying HMO |
|---|---|
| Additional scheme start | 2022-04-01 |
| Scheme end | 2027-03-31 |
| Area / boundaries | Additional licensing is borough-wide; selective licensing has distinct specified areas. |
| Licence fees | Consult the current council fee schedule; charges may vary with habitable rooms and discounts. |
Article 4 and planning restrictions
Perivale’s C3-to-C4 Article 4 direction took effect on 30 October 2024. The direction for the rest of Ealing excluding Perivale and the OPDC area took effect on 14 November 2025. Check the official maps for the address.
Planning controls and licensing requirements are different regimes: qualifying for a licence does not establish planning permission, and planning permission does not replace a licence.
What should a landlord do?
- Confirm the property's council and its current licensing designation.
- Check occupants, households, facilities and any statutory exemptions.
- Inspect the official planning map and verify the exact address with the council.
- Check the current application fee, conditions, renewal deadline and any supporting documents.
Do not equate an Article 4 area with an automatic refusal of planning permission. Confirm the exact property boundary and intended use.
Primary sources
- Ealing Council — Types of property licences ↗
- Ealing Council — HMO Article 4 directions ↗
- Ealing Council — Civil penalty policy and additional scheme dates ↗
Research snapshot 2026-10-13. This page is an independent summary, not official council advice or a substitute for a property-specific determination.