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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 London Borough of Lewisham, 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 London Borough of Lewisham.
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 London Borough of Lewisham 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 to HMOs not covered by mandatory licensing, including properties where three or four people who are not part of the same household live together and share kitchen, toilet and/or bathroom facilities. Also covers properties in purpose-built blocks of flats where three or more people who are not part of the same household share kitchen and/or bathroom facilities. An estimated 6,000 additional HMOs require a licence under this scheme.
Designation came into force on 5 April 2022 and will cease to have effect on 4 April 2027 (5 years) or earlier if the Council revokes the scheme under section 84 of the Housing Act 2004. Property types covered: Smaller HMOs (3-4 unrelated occupants sharing facilities), flats in multiple occupation in purpose-built blocks of 3+ flats. Exemptions or exclusions: Section 257 HMOs (certain converted blocks of flats) are excluded from this scheme. Also excluded: properties already required to be licensed under mandatory HMO licensing (section 55(2)(a) Part 2 of the Act), properties subject to an Interim or Final Management Order under Part 4 of the Act, and properties subject to a temporary exemption under section 62 of the Act..
Our current data shows this scheme based on public information. Always verify the latest fees, dates, and boundary wording on the official council page.
National mandatory licensing scheme applying to HMOs with 5 or more people from more than one household who share amenities such as bathrooms, toilets and cooking facilities. This is the national scheme applying borough-wide.
The fee structure for both mandatory and additional HMO licensing is the same at £500 per lettable unit. A lettable unit is defined as a room that could be occupied as living accommodation by a household that does not form part of the common parts of the property. Property types covered: Large HMOs with 5+ occupants from 2+ households sharing facilities. Exemptions or exclusions: Properties subject to an Interim or Final Management Order under Part 4 of the Housing Act 2004, or subject to a temporary exemption under section 62 of the Act..
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 licensing for all privately rented properties not covered by mandatory or additional HMO licensing in the designated wards. Part of the borough-wide selective licensing scheme approved by the Secretary of State on 30 November 2023. Based on pre-May 2022 council ward boundaries.
The scheme covers approximately 20,000 properties across all three designations. 72% of all licensing income is ring-fenced for enforcement. A postcode checker is available on the council website to verify if a property falls within the selective licensing area. Ward boundaries are based on pre-May 2022 boundaries. Property types covered: All privately rented properties not requiring mandatory or additional HMO licensing. Exemptions or exclusions: Registered Providers of Social Housing and Registered Social Landlords are exempt. Lodger arrangements where the landlord shares facilities with lodgers in their own home do not require a selective licence. Telegraph Hill ward and a small area of Blackheath are excluded from the overall selective licensing scheme..
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 licensing for all privately rented properties not covered by mandatory or additional HMO licensing in the designated wards. Part of the borough-wide selective licensing scheme approved by the Secretary of State on 30 November 2023.
Same scheme as Designation 1 but covering different wards. Ward boundaries are based on pre-May 2022 boundaries. Property types covered: All privately rented properties not requiring mandatory or additional HMO licensing. Exemptions or exclusions: Registered Providers of Social Housing and Registered Social Landlords are exempt. Lodger arrangements where the landlord shares facilities with lodgers in their own home do not require a selective licence..
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 licensing for all privately rented properties not covered by mandatory or additional HMO licensing in the designated wards. Part of the borough-wide selective licensing scheme approved by the Secretary of State on 30 November 2023.
Same scheme as Designation 1 but covering different wards. Ward boundaries are based on pre-May 2022 boundaries. Property types covered: All privately rented properties not requiring mandatory or additional HMO licensing. Exemptions or exclusions: Registered Providers of Social Housing and Registered Social Landlords are exempt. Lodger arrangements where the landlord shares facilities with lodgers in their own home do not require a selective licence..
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
27 March 2026
Research confidence
High (82/100)
Sources checked
12
Data sourced from multiple corroborating sources including Lewisham Council official web pages, London Property Licensing, Kamma, and Letting Focus. Fee structures confirmed across multiple sources. Selective licensing scheme dates, ward coverage, and three designations confirmed from the Secretary of State approval and council news pages. Additional licensing start date and borough-wide coverage confirmed from the council's designation page. Public register URL verified via MetaStreet platform. The lewisham.gov.uk site returns 403 on direct fetch but data was obtained through search results and third-party aggregators that reference official council pages.
Supporting sources
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 Lewisham.
National mandatory licensing scheme applying to HMOs with 5 or more people from more than one household who share amenities such as bathrooms, toilets and cooking facilities. This is the national scheme applying borough-wide.
The fee structure for both mandatory and additional HMO licensing is the same at £500 per lettable unit. A lettable unit is defined as a room that could be occupied as living accommodation by a household that does not form part of the common parts of the property. Property types covered: Large HMOs with 5+ occupants from 2+ households sharing facilities. Exemptions or exclusions: Properties subject to an Interim or Final Management Order under Part 4 of the Housing Act 2004, or subject to a temporary exemption under section 62 of the Act..
In addition to licensing, all private landlords in England must comply with these requirements:
Use these routes to move from the London Borough of Lewisham 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.
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