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17/12/25 3:30 pm
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Landlord licensing in London has expanded significantly in recent years, with more boroughs using selective licensing and additional HMO licensing to bring large parts of the private rented sector under closer oversight. For landlords, the key risk is simple: if your property falls within a licensing area and you don’t apply in time, you may face enforcement action — even if the property is well managed.
LandlordZONE has reported on multiple large-scale schemes being approved or expanded across the capital, including Hackney voting through two licensing schemes that will require licences for most privately rented homes in the borough.
Licensing is enabled by the Housing Act 2004, which gives councils the power to require landlords to apply for licences and meet conditions around property standards and management. (See legislation overview via the UK Government: Housing Act 2004)
Councils typically argue that licensing helps them target:
In practice, this means landlords may need a licence even if they’ve never had compliance issues — depending on the borough and the scheme area.
Applies to larger HMOs (under national rules). Councils can also layer additional conditions on top of mandatory requirements.
Councils can extend licensing to smaller HMOs, for example where three or more people share facilities. LandlordZONE has reported on Westminster’s plans to renew an additional HMO licensing scheme and the fees involved.
Selective licensing can cover most or all privately rented homes in a defined area — even where the property is a single-family let. LandlordZONE has covered Westminster green-lighting a huge selective licensing scheme across 15 wards.
Some London schemes cover tens of thousands of homes — and in some boroughs, they can become effectively borough-wide. LandlordZONE has reported on Islington expanding selective licensing and increasing fees as schemes widen over time.
Elsewhere, government approval has also been required for very large schemes. LandlordZONE reported on Brent being given the green light for what was described as one of the largest selective licensing schemes in the capital.
While conditions vary by borough, licensing typically expects landlords to evidence core compliance, such as:
Councils may also require specific documentation at application stage, and may inspect either before granting the licence or during the licence period.
Licence fees vary widely by borough and by scheme type, and are typically charged per property for a multi-year licence period.
LandlordZONE reporting shows how fees can rise as schemes expand — for example, Islington’s expansion included an increase in the five-year fee.
Because fees and discounts differ across councils (and sometimes include early-bird pricing), landlords should always check:
Letting an unlicensed property when a licence is required can lead to:
LandlordZONE has repeatedly highlighted how expensive licensing failures can be, including a case where a landlord was ordered to repay rent after failing to keep licensing in place.
There’s also growing sensitivity around how licensing is administered and whether councils apply rules correctly — LandlordZONE covered councils being accused of breaking the law over property licensing schemes in the context of challenges to scheme processes.
No — only landlords whose properties fall within a scheme area (selective/additional) or meet HMO rules. Some borough schemes are extensive, so checking your address is essential.
Selective licensing can apply to most private rentals in an area, while additional licensing typically targets HMOs that fall outside national mandatory HMO rules.
Councils vary, but delays can create risk if you cannot evidence a valid application/temporary cover. Keep proof of submission and payment, and chase acknowledgements.
Assuming licensing only applies to HMOs. In many London boroughs, selective licensing can include “standard” single-family lets.
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