SE16 landlord licensing & compliance
Rotherhithe, Surrey Quays. SE16 covers Rotherhithe, Surrey Quays within London Borough of Southwark. Licensing rules here depend on whether the property is a mandatory HMO, an additional HMO, or falls inside a selective licensing designation. This page brings together the national duties that always apply, local licensing context for London Borough of Southwark, and a step-by-step checklist you can work through before each new tenancy.
Local rental context
New-build flats and conversions; selective scheme covers designated streets.
London Borough of Southwark rent benchmark
Indicative · Jan 2026
Average rent
£2,180 /mo
2-bed
£2,340 /mo
HMO room
£920 /mo
Gross yield
4.7%
Indicative editorial roll-up · ONS / HomeLet / VOA · verify on ONS for legal use. Full dataset →
National compliance stack (applies in SE16)
These duties apply in SE16 exactly as they do nationally, in addition to any London Borough of Southwark licensing.
Pre-tenancy checklist for SE16
Work through every item before marketing a let. One missed step can block Section 21, trigger RROs or void insurance.
- 1
Confirm licensing type on the council checker
Open the London Borough of Southwark landlord licensing page, run the full postal address inside SE16, and capture a dated screenshot of the result for your records.
- 2
Gas Safety (CP12) - annual
Valid Gas Safety Record in place; new tenants must receive a copy before move-in and current tenants within 28 days of the check.
- 3
EICR - every 5 years
Electrical Installation Condition Report must be satisfactory. Issue C1 / C2 remedials within 28 days and keep written confirmation.
- 4
EPC / MEES - band E minimum (C proposed)
Confirm a valid EPC and exemption status if applicable. Plan works early for the proposed C-band MEES uplift.
- 5
Deposit protection within 30 days
Protect any deposit in TDS, DPS or MyDeposits and serve Prescribed Information; failure blocks Section 21 and unlocks tenant claims.
- 6
Right to Rent before tenancy starts
Run manual, IDVT or Home Office online checks for every adult occupier and keep dated evidence for the tenancy duration plus one year.
- 7
Fire safety for HMO / shared lets
Interlinked smoke + CO alarms, fire doors, emergency lighting on escape routes, PAT for supplied electricals and a recent fire risk assessment.
Verify licensing for your exact address
Selective and additional HMO designations are often drawn at street or ward level, not postcode level. The only authoritative answer for a property inside SE16 is the London Borough of Southwark checker.
What's in force across London Borough of Southwark
- Additional HMO licensing borough-wide for 3–4 person HMOs
- Selective designations have covered specific wards in recent cycles
- Active fire-safety enforcement, especially post-Grenfell
FAQs: SE16 landlord licensing
Does SE16 fall under selective or additional licensing in London?
It depends on the exact address and property type. London Borough of Southwark publishes a postcode or ward checker. SE16 includes Rotherhithe, Surrey Quays. Run the full postal address on the council checker before assuming no licence is required - selective designations are often street-level, not postcode-wide.
What national UK landlord duties apply in SE16?
England-wide duties apply regardless of local licensing: Gas Safety (annual CP12), EICR every 5 years, EPC band E minimum (MEES), deposit protection within 30 days, Right to Rent checks before move-in, and smoke + CO alarm rules. Get any of these wrong and Section 21, RROs and civil penalties all follow.
Is SE16 a high-enforcement postcode area?
Student, HMO-dense and regeneration postcodes in London typically see more unannounced inspections, licence audits and follow-ups from environmental health. Keep certificates, licences and tenant documents in one place and renew before expiry. Unlicensed letting can attract civil penalties up to £30,000 and Rent Repayment Orders of up to 12 months' rent.
How much is a landlord licence in SE16?
Fees are set per scheme by London Borough of Southwark and usually split into an application stage and a grant stage. Expect £600-£1,100 for selective and £800-£1,400+ for additional / HMO licences in most London boroughs, with discounts for accreditation. Always check the current fee table on the council website before applying.
Do I need planning permission to convert into an HMO in SE16?
If the council area is subject to an Article 4 Direction for C3 to C4 use, you need full planning permission to let to 3 or more unrelated sharers. London Borough of Southwark publishes its Article 4 map. Large HMOs (sui generis, 7+ sharers) always need planning permission.
Can I use Section 21 in SE16 after the Renters Rights Act?
No. Section 21 is abolished on 1 May 2026 across England, including London. From that date all assured shorthold tenancies convert to assured periodic tenancies and landlords must use a Section 8 ground. Deposit protection, valid Gas Safety and EPC still block possession where missed before the switchover.
What insurance should I have for a let property in SE16?
Specialist landlord buildings insurance with landlord liability (often £2m+), optional contents for furnished items, loss of rent and legal expenses. For HMOs, check the insurer explicitly covers HMO use and the number of occupants - standard buy-to-let policies often exclude HMOs.
Nearby districts in London Borough of Southwark
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