Lambeth: landlord licensing
Lambeth operates discretionary property licensing. Here is what is in force, what is coming, and how to check whether your property is affected.
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Active selective licensing
Selective licensing applies to ordinary private rented homes (not just HMOs) within a designated area.
Selective licensing
activePhase 1 (four Streatham-area wards)
- Dates
- 2 Sept 2024 – 1 Sept 2029
- Approx. fee
- £1,025 (Part A £717.50 + Part B £307.50)
- Wards / areas
- Knight's Hill, Streatham Common & Vale, Streatham Hill East, Streatham St Leonard's
Selective licensing
activePhase 2: 19 further wards; phases 1+2 cover 23 of 25 wards
- Dates
- 1 Sept 2025 – 31 Aug 2030
- Approx. fee
- £1,025 (Part A £717.50 + Part B £307.50)
- Wards / areas
- Brixton Acre Lane, Brixton North, Brixton Rush Common, Brixton Windrush, Clapham Common & Abbeville, Clapham East, Clapham Park, Clapham Town, Gipsy Hill, Herne Hill & Loughborough Junction, Kennington, Myatt's Field, Oval, St Martin's, Stockwell East, Stockwell West & Larkhall, Streatham Hill West & Thornton, Streatham Wells, West Dulwich
Active additional (HMO) licensing
Additional licensing extends HMO licensing to smaller shared houses (typically 3-4 sharers) that fall below the mandatory threshold.
Additional (HMO) licensing
activeBorough-wide, all HMOs (incl. s257) with 3+ occupants outside mandatory. Expires 8 Dec 2026, no renewal announced yet.
- Dates
- 9 Dec 2021 – 8 Dec 2026
- Approx. fee
- approx £520 per habitable room
Mandatory HMO licensing (applies everywhere)
Regardless of local schemes, any property in Lambeth let to 5 or more people forming 2 or more households, who share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet, needs a mandatory HMO licence under the Housing Act 2004. Licences last up to 5 years and the fee is set by the council.
Penalties for operating unlicensed
- Civil penalty of up to £40,000 per offence (raised from £30,000 on 1 May 2026).
- Rent Repayment Order of up to 24 months' rent, claimable by the tenant.
- Unlimited fine on criminal prosecution, plus possible banning order.
- Once the national PRS Database is live, unregistered landlords can be blocked from regaining possession.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a landlord licence in Lambeth?
Lambeth operates 2 selective licensing scheme(s) and 1 additional (HMO) licensing scheme(s). Whether your specific property needs a licence depends on its exact location and how it is let, plus mandatory HMO licensing which applies England-wide to properties let to 5+ people in 2+ households.
What is the penalty for an unlicensed property in Lambeth?
Operating a licensable property without a licence can lead to a civil penalty of up to £40,000 per offence, a Rent Repayment Order of up to 24 months' rent, an unlimited fine on prosecution, and a banning order for serious or repeat offenders.
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Data verified against council sources as of July 2026. PRSCheck is an information service, not legal advice. Many schemes are designated at street or part-ward level; confirm the exact boundary for your address with the council before relying on this page. Browse all councils.