London · Compliance hub
London landlord compliance 2026
Every licensing scheme, certificate deadline and enforcement note for London landlords — plus the platform that tracks them all with a 0–100 score per property, and runs the rest of the let too.
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Quick answer
London's private rented sector is the largest and most heavily regulated in the UK. Every one of the 33 boroughs sets its own licensing scheme on top of national rules, and many run selective licensing in defined wards. This page summarises what a London landlord must hold in 2026 on top of the core compliance stack: Gas Safety (CP12), EICR, EPC, deposit protection, Right to Rent and Renters Rights Act duties.
Boroughs
33
each sets its own scheme
Average rent
£2,150
per month, ONS Q1 2026
HMO licensing
5+ occupants
mandatory nationwide
Active selective licensing
20+ boroughs
as of Q2 2026
The national compliance stack
These duties apply in London exactly as they do nationally. Miss one and enforcement, possession claims and civil penalties all follow the same rules.
Gas Safety (CP12)
Annual check, 28-day tenant copy
EICR
Every 5 years, £30k max fine
EPC / MEES
Minimum E, C required by 2030
Deposit protection
30 days, Prescribed Information
Right to Rent
Pre-tenancy ID check, fines up to £20k
Renters Rights Act
In force 1 May 2026
Not sure where a London property stands? Add it to LetCompliance and every duty above is scored 0–100, with reminders before each one lapses.
Score your property freeWhat getting it wrong costs in London
The fines are national; London borough councils is the body that enforces them locally. A single missed duty can also block a possession claim, so the cost is rarely just the fine.
Unlimited fine + up to 6 months in prison
Criminal offence
Up to £30,000 per property
Per breach
Up to £5,000 per property
EPC C required by 2030
1–3× the deposit paid to the tenant
Also blocks possession
Up to £20,000 per occupier
Repeat breach
Up to £30,000 + Rent Repayment Order (12 months’ rent)
Council enforced
Up to £40,000 + no possession order
New under the RRA 2025
How LetCompliance keeps London landlords compliant
Every licence & certificate in one place
Track each property’s HMO or selective licence alongside Gas, EICR, EPC and deposit dates.
A live 0–100 compliance score
See red / amber / green per property at a glance, and the score drops the moment anything lapses.
Reminders before every deadline
Email + SMS at 90, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day, so a renewal date is never the reason you fail an inspection.
Licensing in London
Mandatory HMO licensing
Mandatory HMOAny HMO with 5 or more occupants from 2 or more households needs a mandatory licence from the borough. Fees range from ~£500 to £1,100 for 5 years.
Additional licensing (smaller HMOs)
Additional licensingAt least 15 London boroughs operate additional licensing for HMOs with 3-4 occupants. Examples include Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Lambeth and Waltham Forest.
Selective licensing (non-HMO rentals)
Selective licensingNewham, Croydon, Waltham Forest and several others require a licence for every private rental in defined wards. Operating without one can mean fines of £30,000 and Rent Repayment Orders.
Article 4 directions (planning)
Article 4 planningSeveral boroughs have Article 4 directions removing permitted development for conversion to HMO. Planning consent is required before converting a C3 dwelling.
Verify the current scheme status at London borough councils before letting.
Ward & council breakdown in London
Licensing rules, Article 4 status and enforcement change street by street. Drill into the specific council area:
London Borough of Hackney
Borough-wide additional HMO licensing plus designated selective schemes.
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Borough-wide selective licensing proposed / active plus additional HMO licensing.
London Borough of Newham
The UK’s longest-running borough-wide selective licensing scheme.
London Borough of Waltham Forest
Borough-wide selective licensing with very active enforcement.
London Borough of Croydon
Borough-wide selective licensing renewed for a further 5 years.
London Borough of Lewisham
Designated-area selective licensing plus additional HMO scheme.
London Borough of Southwark
Additional HMO licensing borough-wide; selective designated in specific wards.
London Borough of Lambeth
Additional HMO licensing plus borough-wide selective scheme proposed/active.
London Borough of Haringey
Borough-wide selective and additional HMO licensing in recent cycles.
London Borough of Enfield
Selective licensing through ward designations plus additional HMO.
London Borough of Brent
Borough-wide additional HMO plus selective in specific wards.
London Borough of Islington
Additional HMO borough-wide; active fire-safety enforcement.
London Borough of Camden
Additional HMO plus selective in specific sub-areas.
London Borough of Barking & Dagenham
Borough-wide selective licensing scheme.
London Borough of Redbridge
Selective licensing in designated wards plus additional HMO.
Local enforcement notes
Newham blanket licensing
Newham operates one of the longest-running selective licensing schemes in the country. Every privately rented property needs a licence. Renewals fall due every 5 years, verify current scheme status on the Newham council website.
Waltham Forest, Hackney and Tower Hamlets fines
These boroughs have historically been active enforcers, issuing civil penalties for unlicensed HMOs and HHSRS Category 1 hazards. Keep Gas, EICR and EPC records centrally; an audit-ready trail blunts enforcement.
EPC profile
Older London housing stock skews toward D-E EPCs, leaving many landlords only just above MEES. The confirmed EPC C standard (1 October 2030) will be particularly disruptive to Victorian and Edwardian stock.
Key dates London landlords need on the calendar
The law is changing fast between now and 2030. LetCompliance keeps these tracked per property, so you plan ahead instead of reacting.
- 1 May 2026
Renters’ Rights Act in force
Section 21 abolished, all tenancies become periodic, rent rises go through Section 13 once a year.
- 6 Apr 2026
MTD for Income Tax begins
Mandatory digital quarterly reporting for landlords with £50k+ qualifying income.
- Late 2026
PRS Database opens
Landlord and property registration becomes mandatory; letting or evicting unregistered is penalised.
- 6 Apr 2027
MTD threshold drops to £30k
More landlords pulled into digital quarterly tax reporting.
- 6 Apr 2028
MTD threshold drops to £20k
Most portfolio landlords now inside MTD ITSA.
- 1 Oct 2030
EPC C required (MEES)
Every privately rented home in England must reach EPC band C or register a valid exemption.
FAQs for London landlords
Do I need a licence to let a property in London?
It depends on the borough and the type of let. Mandatory HMO licensing applies to 5+ occupant HMOs nationwide. Many boroughs layer additional HMO licensing (smaller HMOs) and selective licensing (all rentals in defined wards). Check your borough's website before marketing the property.
How do I find out if a property is in a selective licensing area?
Each borough publishes a postcode-searchable map. Newham, Croydon and Waltham Forest run borough-wide schemes. Tower Hamlets, Hackney and Enfield run ward-level schemes. Operating without a required licence is a civil penalty offence.
Does the Renters Rights Act change anything specifically for London?
No, the Act is national. But because London has high rents and active tribunals, Section 13 rent increase challenges are more common here. Landlords should use the prescribed form and keep a market-evidence file.
Run every London let from one login.
Beyond licensing and certificates, LetCompliance advertises the property, references tenants, collects the rent and prepares your SA105 tax — every duty scored 0–100 with reminders before it lapses. Free for one property, no card.
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