London
We currently show scheme records, official links, and supporting research for this council.
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This page includes the scheme records we currently hold, but council policies and boundaries can change. Treat it as a researched starting point and verify the latest position on the official council pages before acting.
Based on publicly available information, we show the licensing status we currently hold for Kensington and Chelsea, highlight mandatory HMO rules, and link you to official council sources for verification where we currently have them.
Confirm the current scheme boundary, licence fee, exemptions, application route, and any recent policy changes on the council website before making decisions.
Our current data is based on publicly available information. Always verify the latest licensing position, scheme boundaries, fees, and exemptions with Kensington and Chelsea.
We research council licensing information from public sources and present it as general guidance. We do not replace the council's own licensing pages or legal advice.
Council updates
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.
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
Live now
A concise written review for one property, postcode, or council situation based on current public council-source information.
Best for: Best for landlords, agents, and buyers who want written clarity quickly on one case.
Delivery: Concise report by email, usually within 2 working days
Licensing Due Diligence Report
Coming soon
A more tailored, more decision-oriented, and more risk-focused review for higher-stakes property decisions.
Best for: Best for buyers, investors, agents, landlords refinancing, and conveyancers handling material decisions.
Delivery: Analyst-reviewed report with stronger risk framing
Alerts and monitoring
Coming soon
A lighter monitoring tier for selected councils or areas, aimed at landlords and smaller investors who want ongoing updates.
Best for: Best for landlords and smaller investors who want ongoing updates without building their own tracking process.
Delivery: Monthly monitoring and change alerts
These options are designed to save research time, improve clarity, and support decision-making. Final reliance should still be tied back to the relevant council and, where necessary, professional advice.
Enter a postcode to see whether it appears to fall within a licensing scheme area, then verify the result with the council.
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.
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.
Our current data shows this scheme based on public information. Always verify the latest fees, dates, and boundary wording on the official council page.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
In addition to licensing, all private landlords in England must comply with these requirements:
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.
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