EPC Certificates in Barnet

Letting in Barnet: HMO licensing and a selective licensing consultation

Barnet runs mandatory HMO licensing for five or more people in two or more households, and a borough-wide additional scheme for HMOs of three or more people in two or more households. The additional scheme began on 27 October 2022 and a council news item says it runs for five years. It also covers a building converted into flats that does not meet the 1991 Building Regulations, where the building has three or more storeys and at least three flats, all privately rented and under one ownership or control.

From 1 January 2026 the fee for an HMO licence for up to five units of accommodation for five years is £1,872 for a new application: £1,061 with the application and £811 after the first inspection. Accredited landlords and charities get 10% off the first part, and each unit over five costs £37 more.

Barnet’s selective licensing page says the council is consulting on proposals for selective licensing in 10 wards. That is a proposal, not a scheme in force. The fee table already lists a selective licence at £774 “following designation”, so check the page for the outcome before letting a non-HMO home.

Barnet Council, what are houses in multiple occupation, checked 28/10/2026. Barnet Council, HMO licensing fees and charges, checked 28/10/2026. Barnet Council, licensing scheme renewed to improve property standards, checked 28/10/2026. Barnet Council, selective licensing, checked 28/10/2026.

Conservation areas and Article 4 in Barnet

Barnet’s conservation area list includes College Farm, Finchley Church End, Finchley Garden Village, Glenhill Close, Golders Green, Hampstead Garden Suburb, Hampstead Village (Heath Passage), Hendon Church End, Hendon The Burroughs, Mill Hill, Monken Hadley, Moss Hall Crescent, Railway Terraces, Totteridge, Watling Estate and Wood Street. The council says 10 conservation areas are covered by or have Article 4 directions in force.

Hampstead Garden Suburb has two directions. Area 1 takes away permitted development rights for extensions and alterations, roof alterations, porches, outbuildings, hard surfaces, gates, fences and walls, painting the exterior, solar PV and solar thermal equipment and ground and water source heat pumps. Area 2, Spaniards End, covers only gates, fences, walls and other enclosures.

Separately, planning permission has been needed anywhere in Barnet since 29 May 2016 to turn a home into a small HMO where between 3 and 6 unrelated people share basic amenities.

Barnet Council, conservation areas, checked 28/10/2026. Barnet Council, Hampstead Garden Suburb Article 4 directions, checked 28/10/2026. Barnet Council, small HMO Article 4 Direction, checked 28/10/2026.

Garden suburb, Watling Estate and Railway Terraces in Barnet

The council’s page says Hampstead Garden Suburb was developed between 1907 and 1938 on a greenfield site to a formal plan. It covers 1009 acres, including about 136 acres of open space, and was designated in 1968. The Hampstead Garden Suburb Trust’s Scheme of Management does not cover exactly the same land as the conservation area.

The Watling Estate at Burnt Oak is a conservation area of 158 hectares with approximately 4,000 homes, around 3,600 houses and 400 flats, built at 10.7 homes per acre. Railway Terraces in Cricklewood has approximately 180 houses and 52 flats, and the council says some properties, particularly in Gratton Terrace, have been converted to HMO use, in several cases without planning permission. Finchley Garden Village is tightly drawn: 51 properties on about 9 acres.

Barnet Council, Hampstead Garden Suburb conservation area, checked 28/10/2026. Barnet Council, Watling Estate conservation area, checked 28/10/2026. Barnet Council, Railway Terraces conservation area, checked 28/10/2026. Barnet Council, Finchley Garden Village conservation area, checked 28/10/2026.