Which London boroughs have selective licensing?

Our current data shows 24 of London's 33 boroughs operating an active selective licensing scheme, and 27 operating additional HMO licensing. Schemes can be borough-wide or limited to certain wards, so always confirm the boundary with the borough.

Do all London boroughs require an HMO licence?

Mandatory HMO licensing applies across all of London, as in the rest of England, to properties with five or more occupiers forming two or more households. Many boroughs also run additional licensing covering smaller shared houses, which varies by borough.

How do I check licensing for a specific London property?

Use the postcode checker to match the address to its borough and see whether our current data shows selective or additional licensing for that area, then verify with the borough. Because some schemes only cover certain wards, postcode-level checking matters.

Is this London licensing comparison official?

No. It is a research summary based on our current data, not an official record. Boroughs can introduce, renew, or end schemes at any time, so treat it as a starting point and verify the latest position with the borough.

Region hub

London borough property licensing

London has some of the densest property licensing in England. This hub compares selective and additional HMO licensing across all 33London boroughs, alongside how usable each borough's public register is. Use it as a starting point, then check a specific address and verify with the borough.

Boroughs: 33
Active selective: 24
Active additional: 27
Searchable registers: 26

Licensing by London borough

Register usability is scored 1 (clear searchable register) to 5 (no clear public route). All statuses reflect our current data and should be verified with the borough.

Borough	Selective	Additional HMO	Register
Bexley	Active	None shown	3/5
Bromley	None shown	None shown	1/5
City of London Corporation	None shown	None shown	Not confirmed
Havering	Active	Active	1/5
Kensington and Chelsea	None shown	Active	1/5
London Borough of Barking and Dagenham	Active	Active	1/5
London Borough of Barnet	Active	Active	1/5
London Borough of Brent	Active	Active	1/5
London Borough of Camden	Active	Active	1/5
London Borough of Croydon	Proposed	Proposed	1/5
London Borough of Ealing	Active	Active	1/5
London Borough of Enfield	Active	Active	1/5
London Borough of Hackney	Active	Active	1/5
London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham	Active	Active	3/5
London Borough of Haringey	Active	Active	1/5
London Borough of Harrow	Active	Active	1/5
London Borough of Hillingdon	None shown	Active	3/5
London Borough of Hounslow	None shown	Active	1/5
London Borough of Islington	Active	Active	1/5
London Borough of Lambeth	Active	Active	1/5
London Borough of Lewisham	Active	Active	1/5
London Borough of Newham	Active	Active	1/5
London Borough of Redbridge	Active	Active	1/5
London Borough of Richmond upon Thames	None shown	None shown	1/5
London Borough of Southwark	Active	Active	1/5
London Borough of Tower Hamlets	Active	Active	2/5
London Borough of Waltham Forest	Active	Active	1/5
London Borough of Wandsworth	Active	Active	1/5
London Borough of Westminster	Active	Active	1/5
Merton	Active	Active	1/5
Royal Borough of Greenwich	Active	Active	1/5
Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames	None shown	Former	3/5
Sutton	None shown	Active	3/5

Our current data is a research summary, not a legal record. Borough schemes, boundaries, fees, and registers should always be verified with the borough before letting, purchasing, refinancing, or taking legal action. Mandatory HMO licensing applies across London regardless of any local scheme.

Stay informed

Get notified when licensing schemes change

Useful if you are tracking an area before buying, letting, or reviewing compliance. We send occasional update emails only, and you should still verify final requirements with the council.

No spam. No generic marketing blasts. Just occasional licensing updates.

Licensing in other regions

East Midlands East of England North East North West South East South West West Midlands Yorkshire and the Humber

Selective licensing areas

All councils operating selective licensing, by region.

Additional HMO areas

Councils running additional HMO licensing, by region.

How usable each council's public register is.

Checking a London property?

Use the free checker first. A written review can document the borough licensing position and official sources if a decision needs it.

Free checker

Free · Live now

Check a postcode, open the council page, and use the guides before paying for anything.

Open the free checker

Property Licensing Check

£29 · Live now

A concise written review for one property, postcode, or council situation based on current public council-source information.

Request the review

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.

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.

Licensing by London borough

Get notified when licensing schemes change

Licensing in other regions

Related pages

Checking a London property?