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Council websiteLandlord licensing in Bromley
London
We currently show scheme records, official links, and supporting research for this council.
Licensing scorecard
Enhanced coverageNo active local selective or additional licensing scheme is currently shown in our data.
Selective licensing
No active selective scheme shownAdditional HMO licensing
No active additional scheme shownMandatory HMO licensing
Applies across England- Source confidence
- Medium
- Boundary confidence
- No active local scheme boundary to assess
- Public register
- Clear searchable register (1/5)
- Last reviewed
- 27 March 2026
- Next review due
- Not scheduled
- Sources recorded
- 14
Our current data is a research summary, not a legal record. This should be verified with the council before letting, purchasing, refinancing, or taking legal action. Mandatory HMO licensing may still apply even where no local additional or selective scheme is recorded.
Recommended next step
Confirm the detail before you rely on it
Our current data gives a useful starting point, but the area match or scheme detail may need confirming. Verify on the official council source, or get a written check if you want a documented answer.
What still adds uncertainty
- Mandatory HMO licensing can apply based on occupancy and households, which cannot be confirmed from a postcode alone.
Buying, refinancing, or completing conveyancing? A due diligence report pulls the licensing position together with the official routes so the risk is documented before you commit. This is an information service and is not legal advice.
Verify with the council
Our current data is based on publicly available information. Always verify the latest licensing position, scheme boundaries, fees, and exemptions with Bromley.
Council updates
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We will email you if Bromley introduces, renews, or changes a licensing scheme. Free, occasional updates only. Always verify final requirements on the council website.
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If you are still unsure
Keep the informational journey first. Use the free checker, the £29 review, or alerts only if you want help resolving uncertainty or tracking future change.
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A lighter monitoring tier for selected councils or areas, aimed at landlords and smaller investors who want ongoing updates.
See alerts and monitoringThese are information services, not legal advice. Final reliance should still be checked against council sources.
Check a postcode in Bromley
Enter a postcode to see whether it appears to fall within a licensing scheme area, then verify the result with the council.
Public licensing register
Councils must keep a public register of licensed properties. How easy it is to use varies a lot between councils.
- Public register found
- Yes
- Search method
- Search online
- Register usability
- Clear searchable register (1/5)
- Register updated
- May 2019
Register appears to cover
HMO
Appears to cover HMO licences - always confirm scope on the register itself.
Register notes
Bromley is required under Section 232 of the Housing Act 2004 to maintain a public register of licensed HMOs. The council operates a Public Access to Licensing portal (pp.bromley.gov.uk) which enables residents to follow application progress, view documentation, make comments, and view historic application and licence details. However, the portal disclaimer states: 'The online licensing history contained within the site should not be considered as complete. No responsibility will be taken for any errors or omissions; for complete information, please contact the licensing team.' The register is not published as a dedicated downloadable dataset (unlike some other London boroughs such as Barnet which publishes a CSV on open data portals). Past FOI requests (on WhatDoTheyKnow) have successfully obtained an Excel spreadsheet of licensed HMOs from the council. As of May 2019 there were 121 licensed HMOs in the borough. The council supplied a list of all licensed HMOs to the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) in connection with the December 2023 Council Tax aggregation changes for HMOs.
The council register and official source pages should be treated as the source of truth. Our summary is a guide to help you find and use them, not a substitute for the live register. How public registers work.
Research summary
These public research signals help show how recently this page was reviewed and what still needs checking before you rely on it.
Last reviewed
27 March 2026
Research confidence
Medium (69/100)
Sources checked
14
Research notes
Mandatory HMO licensing only status confirmed directly from official bromley.gov.uk pages and corroborated by London Property Licensing and Legislate.tech. Fee structure (Part 1 £1,535 + Part 2 £1,023 for up to 5 units) confirmed directly from the official apply-hmo-licence page (2025/26 rates). The absence of additional and selective licensing is confirmed across multiple independent sources. The Housing Strategy 2019-2029 intent to extend licensing to all HMOs is noted but unimplemented. Article 4 Direction details confirmed across multiple sources. Public register status confirmed - searchable via portal but not downloadable as open data.
Council contact details
- Phone
- 0300 303 8657
Important to verify
- Whether fee structure has changed since the 2025/26 figures confirmed on official page (fees stated as 'subject to change')
- Separate renewal fee if different from new application fee (official page does not distinguish renewal vs new application fees)
- Exact current count of licensed HMOs (most recent figure is 121 from May 2019)
- Any recent council change that could affect the current public summary.
Supporting sources
- https://www.bromley.gov.uk/houses-multiple-occupancy/house-multiple-occupation-hmo
- https://www.bromley.gov.uk/housing-advice-options/houses-multiple-occupation-hmo-advice-landlords
- https://www.bromley.gov.uk/housing-advice-options/apply-hmo-licence
- https://www.bromley.gov.uk/housing-advice-options/houses-multiple-occupation-hmo-advice-tenants
- https://www.bromley.gov.uk/downloads/file/461/house_in_multiple_occupation_hmo_licensing_guide
- https://www.bromley.gov.uk/downloads/file/462/hmo_licence_application_form
Mandatory HMO licensing
All councils in England must operate mandatory HMO licensing. This applies to properties with 5 or more occupants forming 2 or more separate households, regardless of location. If your property meets these criteria, you must apply for a mandatory HMO licence from Bromley council.
Not sure whether the rules apply? Use the HMO licence checker to check whether a property may need an HMO licence, then verify the current position with Bromley council.
Council-specific HMO detail we currently show
National mandatory HMO licensing applying to all HMOs in the London Borough of Bromley occupied by 5 or more people forming more than one household who share facilities. Applies borough-wide as a statutory requirement under the Housing Act 2004. A live-in landlord with 4 or more tenants also triggers the licensing requirement.
- HMO fee guide
- £2,558
- Fee notes
- Fees as of 2025/26 (confirmed on official bromley.gov.uk apply-hmo-licence page). Fee is split into two parts. Part 1 (Licence Administration Fee, due at application submission): £1,535 for up to 5 units, £307 per additional unit above 5. Part 2 (Licensing Fee, payable on decision to grant): £1,023 for up to 5 units, £205 per additional unit above 5. Total for a standard 5-bedroom HMO (up to 5 units): £2,558. Example: a 6-unit property costs Part 1 £1,842 + Part 2 £1,228 = £3,070 total. A licence cannot be issued until Part 2 fee has been paid. Fees 'could be subject to change in the future'. Prior to 2024, the fee was approximately £1,771 for a 5-bedroom HMO; London Property Licensing reported a 41% annual increase, making Bromley the second-highest charging London borough for 5-bedroom HMOs (after Lambeth). No discount for accredited landlords mentioned on official pages or third-party sources.
- Typical licence term
- Up to 5 years
Bromley only operates the mandatory HMO licensing scheme. Applications must be submitted online via the council's portal at https://pp.bromley.gov.uk. The council's Housing Strategy 2019-2029 recommended extending licensing to all HMOs in the borough (additional licensing), but no additional or selective scheme has been introduced. Minimum bedroom sizes apply nationally: 4.64m² for children under 10, 6.51m² for persons aged 10+, 10.22m² for two persons aged 10+. From 1 December 2023, all HMOs in England are valued as a single property for Council Tax purposes, with the landlord liable. As of May 2019, the council had 121 licensed HMOs with an estimated 198 licensable properties in total. Property types covered: Properties meeting the standard test, self-contained flat test, or converted building test HMO definition in Section 254 of the Housing Act 2004, occupied by 5 or more people forming more than one household who share amenities such as a kitchen or bathroom. Also applies where a live-in landlord and 4 or more tenants share facilities. Includes pre-1991 conversions not complying with Building Regulations occupied by 3 or more persons. Purpose-built self-contained flats within blocks of 3 or more self-contained flats are excluded from mandatory licensing. Exemptions or exclusions: Properties managed or owned by housing associations, government departments, the police, fire authority, NHS, registered education providers, or religious bodies. Purpose-built self-contained flats in blocks of 3 or more self-contained flats.
Other compliance requirements
In addition to licensing, all private landlords in England must comply with these requirements:
- Gas Safety Certificate (CP12) - renewed annually
- EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) - every 5 years
- EPC rating of E or above - required before letting
- Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms - checked at start of tenancy
- Deposit protection - within 30 days of receiving deposit
- Right to Rent checks - before tenancy starts
Common questions about licensing in Bromley
- Do I need a landlord licence in Bromley?
- Our current data does not show active selective or additional licensing schemes in Bromley. However, mandatory HMO licensing still applies across England to properties with 5 or more occupiers forming 2 or more households. Always verify with the council as schemes can change.
- How much does a property licence cost in Bromley?
- Based on our current data, licence fees in Bromley are approximately: Mandatory HMO Licensing: £2,558. Fees can vary and may include discounts for early applications. Always check the latest fees on the council website before applying.
- Does mandatory HMO licensing apply in Bromley?
- Yes. Mandatory HMO licensing applies across all of England, including Bromley. It covers properties with 5 or more occupiers forming 2 or more separate households. You must apply to Bromley council for a mandatory HMO licence if your property meets these criteria.
- What happens if I rent without a licence in Bromley?
- Operating a licensable property without the correct licence can lead to enforcement action. For offences committed on or after 1 May 2026, GOV.UK guidance refers to civil penalties of up to £40,000 for relevant offences, with different treatment for breaches and for offences committed before that date. Earlier cases may still be assessed under previous rules. Tenants or local authorities may be able to apply for a rent repayment order. GOV.UK guidance now refers to up to two years' rent for relevant offences, but eligibility, timing and the final amount depend on the facts and tribunal decision. From 1 May 2026, Section 21 notices can no longer be used for existing or new private tenancies in England. Transitional rules may still matter for notices served before that date.
Still unsure? Choose the next step that fits you
Use these routes to move from the Bromley summary into the most relevant next action for your property, role, or research task.
Landlord with a standard let→
Start with a postcode if you want a property-specific route before relying on the council summary alone.
Shared occupancy or possible HMO→
Use the HMO checker if occupier numbers, households, or room-sharing could change the answer.
Check if a property has an HMO licence→
Use this if you need to check whether a property holds an HMO licence, or find the council's public HMO register.
Investor, buyer, or conveyancer→
Use the due diligence guide if this council page is part of a purchase, refinance, or pre-letting review.
Letting agent or portfolio manager→
Preview the monitoring route if you need ongoing watchlists and recurring scheme-change visibility.
Tenant checking landlord compliance→
Use the tenant guide if you rent a property and want to check whether your landlord holds the right licence.
Important disclaimer
This tool provides general information about landlord licensing schemes in England. Results are based on publicly available data and may not reflect recent changes. This is not legal advice. Always verify licensing requirements directly with your local council before making decisions.