Unsure which properties need licensing?

HMO (House in Multiple Occupation) licensing requires landlords to obtain a licence from their local council for shared houses. Mandatory HMO licensing applies to properties with 5+ people from 2+ households (national requirement). Additional HMO licensing covers smaller HMOs (often 3-4 people) in councils that adopt it. Licences typically cost £500-£1,300 for 5 years and require properties to meet safety and management standards.

Selective licensing requires licences for ALL private rented properties (not just HMOs) in designated areas. Councils can introduce selective licensing in areas with high antisocial behaviour, deprivation, or poor property conditions. Some councils (Newham, Hackney, Waltham Forest) have borough-wide selective licensing. Typical fees: £500-£800 for 5 years.

Check: (1) Is it an HMO? (3+ people from 2+ households sharing facilities), (2) Which council? (different schemes per area), (3) Mandatory HMO? (5+ people = yes), (4) Additional HMO scheme? (check council website for designated wards), (5) Selective licensing? (check if property address is in designated area). Licensing Radar automates this checking across all your properties.

Penalties: unlimited fines up to £30,000 per property, criminal record (if prosecuted), rent repayment orders (tenants can claim up to 12 months rent back), and you cannot serve Section 21 notices (though Section 21 is abolished May 2026, you still can't serve Section 8 if unlicensed). Councils actively enforce licensing with regular inspections and public registers.

Councils introduce new schemes or extend existing ones every 1-5 years. Designated areas for additional or selective licensing can expand. Fees increase annually. Licensing Radar verifies data regularly and shows freshness so you know when information was last checked. Coverage badges help indicate whether data is fresh, aging, or needs more scrutiny.