What can a Hounslow officer require before granting an HMO licence?

When deciding an application, the council may inspect, require works such as extra bathrooms or kitchens, and set the maximum number of people who may live in the property. Applications, new or renewal, are made online and paid by card. Hounslow says tacit authorisation does not apply, so a licence is not treated as granted just because no decision has arrived.

Does a family let in Hounslow need a property licence?

Not under a local scheme as of October 2026, because Hounslow has no selective licensing. Its Housing Strategy 2025 to 2030 says the council will investigate a selective scheme covering all of the borough's private rented homes. We found no consultation or designation on the council's website as of October 2026, so check its licensing page before each new tenancy.

Is an EICR a legal requirement for landlords in Hounslow?

Yes. The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 require all landlords — including those renting properties in Hounslow — 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 Hounslow?

An EICR in Hounslow 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 Hounslow?

Most EICR inspections in Hounslow 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 · Hounslow

EICR Hounslow — from £67.99

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

Postcodes covered: TW7, TW3, W4, TW13, TW14, TW8, TW5, TW4, UB2. Same-week appointments available — book online in under 3 minutes.

from£67.99

Book EICR in Hounslow — 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 Hounslow 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 Hounslow. 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 Hounslow — local property context

Hounslow has a higher inter-war share of homes than London and fewer flats in converted buildings. Purpose-built flats house 37.4% of households, terraced houses 20.5% and detached houses 4.9%, while only 6.4% live in flats in converted or shared houses, against 11.1% across London (Census 2021). After purpose-built flats, semi-detached houses are the most common type of home.

The council's Housing Strategy says average private rents rose 46% between 2018 and 2024. At the 2021 Census, 30.9% of Hounslow households rented privately, close to London's 30.0%. Our NICEIC approved electricians are experienced with the specific electrical characteristics common to properties in the TW7, TW3, W4, TW13, TW14, TW8, TW5, TW4, UB2 postcode areas and regularly carry out EICR inspections across Hounslow for private landlords, letting agents and HMO operators.

Postcodes covered in Hounslow

TW7, TW3, W4, TW13, TW14, TW8, TW5, TW4, UB2 and surrounding areas. Enter your full postcode during booking to confirm coverage and availability.

EICRs in Hounslow: mostly one installation, one home

With the housing mix shown above, an EICR in Hounslow usually covers one installation serving one home rather than a flat inside a converted house.

If the house is let as an HMO, the report is one of the documents to upload with the licence application, and evidence of any remedial work goes to housing.enforcement@hounslow.gov.uk.

Property licensing in Hounslow

London Borough of Hounslow Additional Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation Scheme (4) 2025
Additional HMO · In force
Applies to:
HMOs of 3 or more people in 2 or more households, and section 257 converted buildings where the building and all its flats are in the same ownership or considered by the council to be effectively in the same control
Area:
Whole borough (all wards)
Period:
11 December 2025 to 10 December 2030
Mandatory HMO licensing
Mandatory HMO · In force
Applies to:
HMOs of 5 or more people in 2 or more households sharing a kitchen, bathroom or toilet
Area:
Whole borough
Period:
National scheme, no end date

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

Households in semi-detached houses: 28.6% (London 18.6%); Census 2021
Homes built 1919 to 1939: 28.5% (London 22.2%); VOA 2025
Homes built before 1919: 16.4% (London 29.1%); VOA 2025

Sources

EICR pricing in Hounslow

Fixed pricing by property size. The same prices apply in Hounslow 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 — Hounslow 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 Hounslow 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 Hounslow — frequently asked questions

Other landlord certificates in Hounslow

We also cover these landlord certificates in Hounslow:

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Fire Alarm Install

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Fire Door Cert

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Commercial EPC

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Asbestos Survey

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EICR in nearby boroughs

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

EICR Ealing

from £67.99 · W3, W5, UB6 …

EICR Hillingdon

from £67.99 · HA4, UB3, UB10 …

EICR Richmond upon Thames

from £67.99 · TW2, TW1, TW11 …

Book your EICR in Hounslow

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

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

Book EICR in Hounslow — from £67.99

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