Do I need a landlord licence in London Borough of Hackney?

London Borough of Hackney currently operates selective licensing and additional HMO licensing. Whether you need a licence depends on the property location, type, and occupancy. Use the postcode checker on this page or contact the council directly to confirm.

How much does a property licence cost in London Borough of Hackney?

Based on our current data, licence fees in London Borough of Hackney are approximately: Mandatory HMO Licensing: £950; Hackney Additional HMO Licensing Scheme 2026: £1,400; Hackney Selective Licensing Scheme 2026: £925. 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 London Borough of Hackney?

Yes. Mandatory HMO licensing applies across all of England, including London Borough of Hackney. It covers properties with 5 or more occupiers forming 2 or more separate households. You must apply to London Borough of Hackney for a mandatory HMO licence if your property meets these criteria.

What happens if I rent without a licence in London Borough of Hackney?

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.

Enhanced research coverage

Landlord licensing in London Borough of Hackney

London

We currently show scheme records, official links, and supporting research for this council.

Council website

Licensing scorecard

Enhanced coverage

Our current data shows active local licensing signals. Verify the latest boundaries, dates, fees, and exemptions with the council.

Selective licensing

Active selective

Additional HMO licensing

Active additional

Mandatory HMO licensing

Applies across England

Source confidence: Medium
Boundary confidence: Low
Public register: Clear searchable register (1/5)
Last reviewed: 11 May 2026
Next review due: Not scheduled
Sources recorded: 7

Open the official council source

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.

Check the official council source Get a written property licensing check

What still adds uncertainty

At least one scheme uses street or custom-area boundaries, so a postcode match can only be approximate.
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 London Borough of Hackney.

Verify on official council licensing page Council website Report an inaccuracy

Council updates

Get updates for London Borough of Hackney

We will email you if London Borough of Hackney introduces, renews, or changes a licensing scheme. Free, occasional updates only. Always verify final requirements on the council website.

Free, occasional licensing updates only. You can unsubscribe at any time.

If you need more than the council page

This page may already answer a lot of the question. Use the paid products only if you want a quicker written summary, a more risk-focused view, or ongoing monitoring.

Property Licensing Check

£29 · Live now

A property-specific PDF licensing report with a verification email template, current scheme fees, and a £30,000 risk context block — delivered to your inbox automatically.

Continue to secure payment

Licensing Due Diligence Report

£79 · Live now

A more tailored, more decision-oriented, and more risk-focused review for higher-stakes property decisions.

Request the report

Alerts and monitoring

£12.99/month · Coming soon

A lighter monitoring tier for selected councils or areas, aimed at landlords and smaller investors who want ongoing updates.

See alerts and monitoring

These are information services, not legal advice. Final reliance should still be checked against council sources.

Check a postcode in London Borough of Hackney

Enter a postcode to see whether it appears to fall within a licensing scheme area, then verify the result with the council.

Local licensing scheme records

Additional LicensingActive

Hackney Additional HMO Licensing Scheme 2026

Borough-wide scheme covering Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) occupied by 3-4 people from 2 or more households who share facilities, including shared accommodation and bedsit-HMOs.

HMO licence fee: £1,400
Fee guide: Paid in two parts: Part A (£840) due at application submission, Part B (£560) due after approval. Part A is non-refundable if application is rejected or withdrawn.
Discount available: EPC rating B or above: 100 off Part B; EPC rating C: 50 off Part B; Accredited landlord (recognised accreditation scheme): 100 off Part B; Multiple flats within the same block: 100 off Part A
Scheme period: 1 May 2026 - 30 April 2031
Typical licence term: 5 years
Coverage: Borough-wide

Research notes

Hackney Council says the additional HMO licensing scheme came into force on 1 May 2026. Check the council page for property scope, fees, exemptions and application details before relying on this.

Verify on official council page

Our current data shows this scheme based on public information. Always verify the latest fees, dates, and boundary wording on the official council page.

Selective LicensingActive

Hackney Selective Licensing Scheme 2026

Covers private rentals let to a single household, a single tenant, or 2 individuals sharing in 17 of Hackney's 21 wards.

Licence fee: £925
Fee guide: Paid in two parts: Part A (£555) due at application submission, Part B (£370) due after approval. Part A is non-refundable if application is rejected or withdrawn.
Discount available: EPC rating B or above: 100 off Part B; EPC rating C: 50 off Part B; Accredited landlord (recognised accreditation scheme): 100 off Part B; Multiple flats within the same block: 100 off Part A
Scheme period: 1 May 2026 - 30 April 2031
Typical licence term: 5 years
Coverage: See council website for boundaries

Research notes

Hackney Council says the selective licensing scheme came into force on 1 May 2026 and covers specified wards. Check the council page for ward coverage, fees, exemptions and application details before relying on this.

Verify on official council page

Our current data shows this scheme based on public information. Always verify the latest fees, dates, and boundary wording on the official council page.

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)

HMOAdditional (unconfirmed)Selective (unconfirmed)

Appears to cover HMO licences - always confirm scope on the register itself.

Register notes

Register accessible via the licensing portal. Third-party sources noted it may have been temporarily unavailable around October 2023 but the portal is currently active.

Open the public register

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

11 May 2026

Research confidence

Medium (69/100)

Sources checked

Research notes

Data sourced from official Hackney Council pages (property-licensing and apply-property-licence) and corroborated with multiple third-party sources. Fee amounts, ward lists, dates, and scheme details consistently reported across sources. The hackney.gov.uk/hmo page returned 404 but all key information was available from the property-licensing pages.

Council contact details

Email: property.licensing@hackney.gov.uk
Phone: 020 8356 4866
Address: Hackney Service Centre, 1 Hillman Street, London E8 1DY

Important to verify

Exact list of 4 excluded wards for selective licensing (only 17 of 21 included wards are named)
Full exemption details (referenced as PDF documents on council site)
Direct URL for public register search (integrated into licensing portal)
Any recent council change that could affect the current public summary.

Supporting sources

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 London Borough of Hackney.

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 London Borough of Hackney.

Council-specific HMO detail we currently show

National mandatory requirement for larger HMOs with 5 or more occupants from 2 or more different households sharing facilities.

HMO fee guide: £950
Fee notes: Current fee is £950 paid upfront. From 1 April 2026, fee changes to two-part payment: Part A (£840) + Part B (£560), total £1,400. Accredited landlord fee currently £875.
Typical licence term: 5 years

Fee structure changing from 1 April 2026 to align with the new two-part payment model. New total will be £1,400. Property types covered: Properties occupied by 5+ people from 2+ different households sharing facilities, including shared houses, bedsits, and converted buildings. Purpose-built self-contained flats in blocks of 3+ units are excluded. Exemptions or exclusions: Purpose-built self-contained flats in blocks of 3 or more units are excluded. Full exemptions listed on legislation.gov.uk.

View HMO licensing info on council website

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

View full compliance checklist →

Common questions about licensing in London Borough of Hackney

Do I need a landlord licence in London Borough of Hackney?: London Borough of Hackney currently operates selective licensing and additional HMO licensing. Whether you need a licence depends on the property location, type, and occupancy. Use the postcode checker on this page or contact the council directly to confirm.
How much does a property licence cost in London Borough of Hackney?: Based on our current data, licence fees in London Borough of Hackney are approximately: Mandatory HMO Licensing: £950; Hackney Additional HMO Licensing Scheme 2026: £1,400; Hackney Selective Licensing Scheme 2026: £925. 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 London Borough of Hackney?: Yes. Mandatory HMO licensing applies across all of England, including London Borough of Hackney. It covers properties with 5 or more occupiers forming 2 or more separate households. You must apply to London Borough of Hackney for a mandatory HMO licence if your property meets these criteria.
What happens if I rent without a licence in London Borough of Hackney?: 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 London Borough of Hackney 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.

Understand selective licensing rules→

Read the guide if you want the broader legal background on how selective licensing works alongside this council page.

Understand additional licensing rules→

Read the guide if you want the broader background on how additional HMO licensing works alongside this council page.

Need the local HMO route→

Use the additional licensing page if the real question is whether a smaller shared house needs a local licence here.

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.