Southwark: landlord licensing
Southwark 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
activeFirst selective designation: 5 wards
- Dates
- 1 Mar 2022 – 28 Feb 2027
- Approx. fee
- £945 (£661.50 Part A + £283.50 Part B)
- Wards / areas
- Champion Hill, Faraday, Goose Green, Newington, St Giles
Selective licensing
activeSecond designation: 14 further wards (19 of 23 covered)
- Dates
- 1 Nov 2023 – 31 Oct 2028
- Approx. fee
- £945
- Wards / areas
- Camberwell Green, Chaucer, Dulwich Hill, Dulwich Wood, London Bridge & West Bermondsey, North Walworth, Nunhead & Queen's Road, Old Kent Road, Peckham, Peckham Rye, Rotherhithe, Rye Lane, South Bermondsey, Surrey Docks
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
activeWhole borough; HMOs up to 4 people, s257 HMOs, flats in blocks of 3+ units
- Dates
- 1 Mar 2022 – 28 Feb 2027
- Approx. fee
- £1,433 from 1 Apr 2026 (s257 licences free)
Mandatory HMO licensing (applies everywhere)
Regardless of local schemes, any property in Southwark 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 Southwark?
Southwark 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 Southwark?
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.