Property Licensing Check
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Council websiteLandlord licensing in Kensington and Chelsea
London
We currently show scheme records, official links, and supporting research for this council.
Licensing scorecard
Enhanced coverageOur current data shows active local licensing signals. Verify the latest boundaries, dates, fees, and exemptions with the council.
Selective licensing
No active selective scheme shownAdditional HMO licensing
Active additionalMandatory HMO licensing
Applies across England- Source confidence
- Medium
- Boundary confidence
- High
- Public register
- Not yet confirmed
- Last reviewed
- 28 March 2026
- Next review due
- Not scheduled
- Sources recorded
- 3
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 Kensington and Chelsea.
Council updates
Get updates for Kensington and Chelsea
We will email you if Kensington and Chelsea 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.
Licensing Due Diligence Report
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A more tailored, more decision-oriented, and more risk-focused review for higher-stakes property decisions.
Request the reportAlerts 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 monitoringThese are information services, not legal advice. Final reliance should still be checked against council sources.
Check a postcode in Kensington and Chelsea
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
Additional HMO Licensing Scheme
Borough-wide additional HMO licensing scheme covering all HMOs defined by section 254 of the Housing Act 2004 that do not fall under the Mandatory Licensing Scheme. Applies to all HMOs with 3 or more persons forming 2 or more households sharing facilities. Applications opened 1 May 2023; scheme came into force 1 June 2023. The scheme was designated following a 2021 consultation and formal council decision on 19 October 2022.
- HMO licence fee
- £1,493
- Fee guide
- £1493
- Discount available
- £200 discount for landlords accredited under the London Landlord Accreditation Scheme (LLAS/ATLAS), NRLA or equivalent recognised scheme, or employing a named manager who is Safeagent or Propertymark approved with Level 3 Award in Residential Letting and Property Management. Further £30 per application discount for bulk applications of more than 3 HMO properties with the same interested persons as licence holder. No discount where landlord only applied after unlicensed HMO was brought to council's attention.
- Scheme period
- 1 June 2023 - 31 May 2028
- Typical licence term
- Up to 5 years (shorter periods may be issued with written explanation)
- Coverage
- Borough-wide
Research notes
The Additional HMO Licensing Scheme covers a borough with 44% of housing stock privately rented and approximately 8,244 HMOs. At scheme launch, the council estimated approximately 3,594 licensable properties. As of June 2022 (pre-scheme), only 153 HMOs were on the public register. The scheme was proposed in a 2021 consultation (March-June 2021, 104 survey respondents plus 21 direct submissions). Approximately 2,400 privately rented properties were identified as having serious health and safety hazards. As at January 2025, 1,220 landlords are accredited. Contact: EH-OSU@rbkc.gov.uk or 020 7341 5714 (consultation team reference).
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
- Not confirmed
- Search method
- Search online
- Register usability
- Clear searchable register (1/5)
Register appears to cover
HMOAdditional
Appears to cover HMO and additional licences - always confirm scope on the register itself.
Register notes
The public register is hosted on the MetaStreet licensing platform at rbkc.metastreet.co.uk/public-register. It records all properties licensed under the Housing Act 2004, including licences under both mandatory and additional schemes, as well as Temporary Exemption Notices (TENs) and management orders. Applications currently being processed do not appear on the register. Also referenced from the main HMO page at rbkc.gov.uk. The same MetaStreet platform (rbkc.metastreet.co.uk) is used for online licence applications.
We do not yet show a direct public register link for this council.
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
28 March 2026
Research confidence
Medium (69/100)
Sources checked
3
Research notes
All key RBKC official pages were successfully fetched and provided consistent, detailed information. The licence fees page was confirmed as last updated 25 March 2026 (today), giving high confidence in current fee amounts. Scheme dates (1 June 2023 to 31 May 2028) are confirmed by both Kamma and London Property Licensing. Selective licensing absence is confirmed by multiple independent sources. The consultation history is well-documented on consult.rbkc.gov.uk.
Council contact details
- Phone
- 020 7361 3001
- Address
- Private Sector Housing Team, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Town Hall, Hornton Street, London W8 7NX
Important to verify
- Exact renewal fee amounts (likely same as new application but not explicitly confirmed)
- Full exemptions list (referenced on a separate exemptions page not fetched)
- Section 257 per-unit fee details (if different from standard fee)
- Any recent council change that could affect the current public summary.
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 Kensington and Chelsea 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 Kensington and Chelsea council.
Council-specific HMO detail we currently show
Applies borough-wide to all HMOs occupied by 5 or more persons forming 2 or more households sharing facilities (kitchen, bathroom or WC). This is the national mandatory scheme under Part 2 of the Housing Act 2004. As of the 2021 newsroom announcement, approximately 185 properties were covered under mandatory licensing at that time.
- HMO fee guide
- £1,493
- Fee notes
- £1493
- Typical licence term
- Up to 5 years (shorter periods may be issued with written explanation)
Properties may be legally let once a valid application has been submitted, even before licence issuance. Mandatory licence conditions include: annual gas safety certificates, safe electrical appliances and furniture, functioning smoke alarms, and written occupancy terms provided to tenants. Online applications submitted via rbkc.metastreet.co.uk.
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 Kensington and Chelsea
- Do I need a landlord licence in Kensington and Chelsea?
- Kensington and Chelsea currently operates 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 Kensington and Chelsea?
- Based on our current data, licence fees in Kensington and Chelsea are approximately: Mandatory HMO Licensing: £1,493; Additional HMO Licensing Scheme: £1,493. 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 Kensington and Chelsea?
- Yes. Mandatory HMO licensing applies across all of England, including Kensington and Chelsea. It covers properties with 5 or more occupiers forming 2 or more separate households. You must apply to Kensington and Chelsea council for a mandatory HMO licence if your property meets these criteria.
- What happens if I rent without a licence in Kensington and Chelsea?
- 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 Kensington and Chelsea 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 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.