Hillingdon's HMO obligations page says only HMOs of five or more need a licence. Is that still right?

No, that page is out of date. Since 24 August 2026, the additional scheme has covered HMOs of three or more people from two or more households across the borough, so a three- or four-person share needs a licence too. The same page limits small-HMO planning permission to Uxbridge South and Brunel wards, but the Article 4 direction has applied borough-wide since December 2025.

How has Hillingdon decided small-HMO planning applications since the Article 4 direction?

Between December 2025 and April 2026, the council received 22 applications to turn a family home into a small HMO and decided 17: 12 were refused, 4 approved and 1 withdrawn.

Is an EICR a legal requirement for landlords in Hillingdon?

Yes. The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 require all landlords — including those renting properties in Hillingdon — to hold a valid EICR. The requirement has applied to all tenancies in England since April 2021. Landlords must provide a copy to tenants before they move in and to the local authority within 7 days of a written request. Failure to comply can result in a civil penalty of up to £40,000 per breach.

How much does an EICR cost in Hillingdon?

An EICR in Hillingdon starts from £67.99 for a studio apartment. A 1–3 bedroom property costs £94.99. Prices scale by property size up to £199.99 for an 8-bedroom HMO. The only location-based surcharge is £20 for properties within the London Congestion Charge Zone, and £10 if no free on-site parking is available.

How long does an EICR take in Hillingdon?

Most EICR inspections in Hillingdon take 2–4 hours depending on the size and age of the property. Older properties and larger installations may take slightly longer. You do not need to be present; a tenant or keyholder can provide access and the certificate will be emailed directly to you within 24 hours.

How often do I need an EICR?

The law requires an EICR every 5 years, or at each change of tenancy — whichever comes first. If the engineer recommends a shorter re-inspection interval in the report (for example 2 years on an older or complex installation), that interval takes precedence. Always keep the EICR certificate on file — you must be able to supply a copy to tenants and your local authority on request.

What happens if my EICR fails?

An EICR is classified as 'unsatisfactory' if the engineer finds a C1 (immediate danger) or C2 (potentially dangerous) code. C1 hazards must be made safe by the engineer before leaving the property. C2 observations must be remedied within 28 days and evidenced in writing to your local authority before the property can be legally let. C3 codes (improvement recommended) do not cause the EICR to fail — the property can still receive a satisfactory result. We can arrange remedial works through our network of NICEIC approved electricians.

NICEIC Approved · Certificate Within 24 Hours · Hillingdon

EICR Hillingdon — from £67.99

Electrical Installation Condition Report for landlords in Hillingdon. NICEIC approved electricians, fixed pricing, no hidden charges — certificate emailed within 24 hours.

Postcodes covered: HA4, UB3, UB10, UB4, UB8, UB7, HA6, HA5, UB9. Same-week appointments available — book online in under 3 minutes.

from£67.99

Book EICR in Hillingdon — from £67.99 View pricing

From: £67.99
Valid for: 5 years
Certificate: within 24 hours
Accreditation: NICEIC Approved

What is an EICR?

An EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) is a formal inspection and test of all fixed electrical wiring, sockets, switches, light fittings and the consumer unit within a rental property. A qualified NICEIC approved electrician tests every circuit from the consumer unit, checks earthing and bonding arrangements, and assigns a condition code to every observation that falls below the current British Standard BS 7671 — the IET Wiring Regulations. The result is a written report that tells you whether the electrical installation is satisfactory for continued use and — if not — what needs to be addressed and within what timeframe.

Since April 2021, every private landlord in England has been legally required to hold a valid EICR and renew it every five years. This national duty applies in Hillingdon as it does across England, and an HMO licence can add its own conditions on top. Failure to comply can result in a civil penalty of up to £40,000 per breach and a remedial notice from your local authority.

Legal requirement: The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 apply to all rental properties in Hillingdon. Every landlord must hold a valid EICR, provide a copy to tenants before they move in, and supply it to their local authority within 7 days of a written request. Failure carries a civil penalty of up to £40,000 per breach.

EICR in Hillingdon — local property context

Hillingdon is London's second-largest borough, covering 42 square miles, and the council says more than half of it is countryside. Heathrow Airport and RAF Northolt are both within its boundary. The council's 2025 housing tenure survey counts 113,124 residential properties across the borough, of which 29,099 are privately rented.

Private renting rose from 19.1% of households in 2011 to 25.9% in 2021, London's joint second-largest rise, the council says. In April 2025, 1,968 local landlords held LLAS accreditation. Our NICEIC approved electricians are experienced with the specific electrical characteristics common to properties in the HA4, UB3, UB10, UB4, UB8, UB7, HA6, HA5, UB9 postcode areas and regularly carry out EICR inspections across Hillingdon for private landlords, letting agents and HMO operators.

Postcodes covered in Hillingdon

HA4, UB3, UB10, UB4, UB8, UB7, HA6, HA5, UB9 and surrounding areas. Enter your full postcode during booking to confirm coverage and availability.

EICRs in Hillingdon: additional licensing now reaches Northwood as well as Uxbridge

Before Hillingdon's additional scheme began, licensed HMOs were unevenly spread: Uxbridge ward had the most, 98, and Northwood had none.

After the council processes an application, which it aims to do within 12 weeks, a housing officer arranges an inspection.

Property licensing in Hillingdon

London Borough of Hillingdon Designation of an Area for Additional Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation 2026
Additional HMO · In force
Applies to:
HMOs of 3 or more people forming 2 or more households that do not need a mandatory licence; section 257 converted blocks of flats are excluded
Area:
Whole borough
Period:
24 August 2026 to 23 August 2031
Mandatory HMO licensing
Mandatory HMO · In force
Applies to:
HMOs of 5 or more unrelated people forming 2 or more households
Area:
Whole borough
Period:
National scheme, no end date

Checked October 2026. Schemes and fees change, so confirm the current position on the Hillingdon Council licensing page.

Homes built before 1919: 4.4% (London 29.1%); VOA 2025
Homes built 1945 to 1972: 25.3% (London 16.9%); VOA 2025
Households in purpose-built flats: 26.2% (London 40.3%); Census 2021

Sources

EICR pricing in Hillingdon

Fixed pricing by property size. The same prices apply in Hillingdon as across all other London boroughs — no London surcharge. The only location-based fee is the £20 Congestion Charge Zone addition for central London properties.

Prices are per property with one consumer unit and up to 12 circuits. See notes below for additional charges.

Domestic EICR — Hillingdon pricing

Description	Price
Studio ApartmentCheapest	£67.99Book
1–3 Bedrooms	£94.99Book
4 Bedrooms	£104.99Book
5 Bedrooms	£139.99Book
6 Bedrooms	£159.99Book
7 Bedrooms	£179.99Book
8 Bedrooms	£199.99Book

Additional charges (where applicable)

Parking charge if no free on-site parking is available: £10
Properties in the London Congestion Charge Zone: £20

Pricing notes

·Prices shown are for properties with one consumer unit (one fuse board). Most standard residential properties have one.
·Properties with more than one consumer unit — common in HMOs, converted flats, and larger houses — are charged an additional £49.99 per extra consumer unit. Your engineer confirms the number of consumer units on arrival.
·Each consumer unit covers up to 12 circuits. Installations with more than 12 circuits per consumer unit are charged an additional £10 per circuit above 12.

Want a detailed cost breakdown? See our full EICR cost guide →

What's included from £67.99

Every EICR we carry out in Hillingdon covers the complete fixed electrical installation at no extra cost beyond the price shown.

Visual inspection of all accessible wiring, sockets, switches and light fittings
Testing of all circuits for continuity, insulation resistance and polarity
RCD (residual current device) testing for all protective devices
Consumer unit check — type, condition, labelling and protective devices
Earthing and bonding arrangement check against BS 7671
NICEIC approved engineer — fully qualified and independently assessed
Signed EICR certificate emailed within 24 hours
Prioritised remedial recommendations with C1/C2/C3 classification

EICR Hillingdon — frequently asked questions

Other landlord certificates in Hillingdon

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EICR in nearby boroughs

We cover all 33 London boroughs. See EICR pricing and booking for areas near Hillingdon:

EICR Ealing

from £67.99 · W3, W5, UB6 …

EICR Harrow

from £67.99 · HA2, HA3, HA1 …

EICR Hounslow

from £67.99 · TW7, TW3, W4 …

Book your EICR in Hillingdon

Book online in under 3 minutes. A NICEIC approved electrician confirms your appointment. Certificate emailed within 24 hours.

Same-week appointments across Hillingdon and all 33 London boroughs — or call 020 3996 1070.

Book EICR in Hillingdon — from £67.99

Fixed pricing. No hidden charges. NICEIC approved. Certificate emailed within 24 hours.