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 London Borough of Tower Hamlets, 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 Tower Hamlets.
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 Tower Hamlets 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.
Covers all privately rented properties occupied by a single household or two unrelated sharers in four designated wards, based on pre-22 May 2014 ward boundaries.
Renewed for a second five-year term from 1 October 2021. An interactive map/postcode checker is available at the council's ArcGIS portal to confirm if a property falls within the scheme area. The UK government lifted restrictions on the scope of selective licensing schemes in December 2024, allowing Tower Hamlets to consider borough-wide expansion. As of August 2025, 6,357 selective licences on the public register.
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 scheme covering all HMOs occupied by three or more persons comprising two or more households who share facilities, irrespective of the number of storeys. Includes flats as well as houses.
Designated by the Mayor in Cabinet on 25 October 2023. Replaces previous area-specific additional licensing. As of August 2025, 4,421 additional licences on the public register.
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 requirement for larger HMOs with 5 or more occupants from 2 or more different households sharing facilities such as a kitchen or bathroom, regardless of the number of storeys. Also applies to self-contained flats in blocks with up to 2 flats where 5+ persons from 2+ households occupy.
Legal requirement since 2006. Definition expanded in October 2018 to remove the storey requirement. As of August 2025, 641 mandatory HMO licences on the public register.
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
High (77/100)
Sources checked
5
Data sourced primarily from official Tower Hamlets Council pages (selective licensing, additional licensing, mandatory HMO licensing, and fees pages) and corroborated with londonpropertylicensing.co.uk and kammadata.com. Fee amounts from the council's dedicated fees page effective 1 April 2025. Ward coverage, scheme dates, and public register statistics consistently reported across all sources. Contact details confirmed on council website.
Public register accessible via the council website and the licensing portal at landlord-licensing.towerhamlets.gov.uk. As of August 2025: 641 mandatory HMO licences, 4,421 additional licences, 6,357 selective licences. Interactive map/postcode checker available for selective licensing area at the council's ArcGIS portal.
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 Tower Hamlets.
National mandatory requirement for larger HMOs with 5 or more occupants from 2 or more different households sharing facilities such as a kitchen or bathroom, regardless of the number of storeys. Also applies to self-contained flats in blocks with up to 2 flats where 5+ persons from 2+ households occupy.
Legal requirement since 2006. Definition expanded in October 2018 to remove the storey requirement. As of August 2025, 641 mandatory HMO licences on the public register.
In addition to licensing, all private landlords in England must comply with these requirements:
Use these routes to move from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets 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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