Why it matters
What Landlord Licensing means for a landlord
Licensing is the most local of a landlord’s duties: the law is national, but councils decide where schemes apply. A landlord can have every certificate in order and still be letting without a licence because the council designated their street last year. Checking each address at least once a year costs nothing; missing a scheme can cost a civil penalty of up to £40,000 and a Rent Repayment Order.
Worked example
How it plays out
Ravi owns single lets in two London boroughs. One council brings in a selective licensing scheme covering his street from 1 April 2026. He only checks the other council’s website, so the flat stays unlicensed. When the council finds it, he faces a civil penalty of up to £40,000, and his tenants can apply for a Rent Repayment Order, of up to two years’ rent for the period from 1 May 2026. A yearly check of each council’s licensing page would have caught it.
Common mistakes
Where landlords go wrong
- 01Checking licensing once when you buy and never again.
- 02Assuming only HMOs need a licence.
- 03Letting a licence expire because the renewal was not diarised.
- 04Breaching licence conditions, such as occupancy limits, which is a separate offence.
What to do
A short checklist
- Check each council’s licensing page for every let address.
- Diary licence renewal dates with plenty of notice.
- Read the licence conditions and keep evidence you meet them.
- Check again after any change in occupants or layout.
Sources
Checked against these sources on 16 September 2026. A guide to the rules in England, not legal advice: for a dispute or a possession claim, speak to a solicitor.
