Camden, Islington, Barnet & Hackney HMO Floor Plan Rules Compared (2026)
Why a 6.6 sq m bedroom passes in Hackney and Barnet but fails in Camden (7.1–9.0 sq m) and Islington (8.0 sq m) — a technical floor plan guide for North London landlords.
Landlords with portfolios spanning North London often assume the 6.51 sq m national single bedroom minimum applies everywhere. In reality, Islington requires 8.0 sq m for a single HMO bedroom (12.0 sq m for a bedsit), and Camden requires 7.1 sq m with a ≥10 sq m shared lounge or 9.0 sq m without one. Before submitting an HMO licence application in NW1–NW11, N1–N20, or E8/N16, use a laser-measured floor plan (£94) that accurately records usable sq m.
In This Guide
- 1.Why National 6.51 sq m Rules Catch Out Camden & Islington Landlords
- 2.Side-by-Side Comparison: Camden vs Islington vs Barnet vs Hackney
- 3.Camden's Standard A vs Standard B Shared Lounge Trap
- 4.Islington's 8 sq m Single & 12 sq m Bedsit Rule
- 5.Barnet & Hackney: Room Geometry and En-Suite Exclusions
Why National 6.51 sq m Rules Catch Out Camden & Islington Landlords
While the Housing Act 2004 sets 6.51 sq m as the statutory minimum single bedroom size in England, local authorities are legally permitted to adopt higher local space standards as conditions of their Mandatory and Additional HMO schemes. Nowhere in London is this contrast sharper than across the borders of Barnet, Camden, Islington, and Hackney.
Side-by-Side Comparison: Camden vs Islington vs Barnet vs Hackney
Use this reference table when reviewing your laser-measured floor plan before submitting to the council:
| Borough | Single Room (Shared Lounge/Kitchen) | Single Room (No Lounge / Bedsit) | Double Room (Shared Lounge/Kitchen) | Double Room (No Lounge / Bedsit) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camden (NW1, NW3, NW5, NW6, WC1) | 7.1 sq m (requires ≥10 sq m lounge) | 9.0 sq m (Standard A: no lounge) | 10.2 sq m (requires ≥10 sq m lounge) | 11.0 sq m (Standard A: no lounge) |
| Islington (N1, N5, N7, N19, EC1) | 8.0 sq m (shared kitchen) | 12.0 sq m (kitchenette in room) | 11.0 sq m (shared kitchen) | 15.0 sq m (kitchenette in room) |
| Barnet (N2, N3, N12, N20, NW4, NW7, NW11) | 6.51 sq m usable | 10.0 sq m expected | 10.22 sq m usable | 15.0 sq m expected |
| Hackney (E8, E9, E2, N16) | 6.51 sq m net usable | Higher where no lounge exists | 10.22 sq m net usable | Higher where no lounge exists |
Camden's Standard A vs Standard B Shared Lounge Trap
In Camden (covering Camden Town NW1, Kentish Town NW5, Hampstead NW3, West Hampstead NW6, and Bloomsbury WC1), converting a shared living room into an extra bedroom triggers 'Standard A'. Under Standard A (no separate communal living room of at least 10 sq m), every single bedroom in the flat must be at least 9.0 sq m. If one of the other bedrooms in the flat is 7.8 sq m, removing the living room makes that 7.8 sq m bedroom non-compliant! Having an accurate floor plan showing both the bedrooms and the communal lounge sq m is essential.
Islington's 8 sq m Single & 12 sq m Bedsit Rule
Across Islington (Angel N1, Highbury N5, Holloway N7, Archway & Tufnell Park N19, and Finsbury Park N4), the minimum single HMO bedroom is 8.0 sq m where there is a separate shared kitchen, rising to 12.0 sq m if cooking facilities are inside the sleeping room. Double bedrooms require 11.0 sq m (or 15.0 sq m for a studio/bedsit).
Barnet & Hackney: Room Geometry and En-Suite Exclusions
In Barnet (Finchley, Hendon, Mill Hill, Golders Green, High Barnet) and Hackney (Stoke Newington N16, Dalston E8, Hackney Central E9), the baseline single room threshold is 6.51 sq m, but licensing officers scrutinise the floor plan for two specific traps:
- ●En-Suite Pods (Hackney & Barnet): Any internal en-suite shower/WC room must be drawn as a separate room on the floor plan and subtracted from the bedroom's usable sq m.
- ●Usable Shape & Doorways (Barnet & Camden): Narrow entrance corridors inside L-shaped rooms behind the door swing cannot be counted if they cannot accommodate standard bedroom furniture.
- ●Head Height <1.5m (All 4 Boroughs): Attic conversions must clearly mark where the ceiling drops below 1.5 metres.
💡Book a Laser-Measured Floor Plan Across North London
ZM Studio covers Barnet, Camden, Islington, and Stoke Newington (N16) with £0 travel fee in N, NW, and EN postcodes. Book a standalone floor plan online for £94.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Camden or Islington reject my 7 sq m HMO bedroom?
Because Islington requires at least 8.0 sq m for a single HMO bedroom, and Camden requires 7.1 sq m (with a ≥10 sq m shared lounge) or 9.0 sq m (without a shared lounge), even though the national baseline is 6.51 sq m.
Does ZM Studio separate en-suites and <1.5m eaves on HMO floor plans?
Yes. Our on-site laser measurements separate en-suite rooms, built-in structural enclosures, and <1.5m head height zones so your sq m figures are accurate for council licensing.
Written by Zosim
Founder & Lead Property Photographer
Founder of ZM Studio, measuring period conversions, student HMOs, and shared flats across Barnet, Camden, Islington, and Hackney.
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