Do you need a landlord licence in Barking and Dagenham?

Whether you need a licence to let a property in Barking and Dagenham depends on the type of property and exactly where it is. Barking and Dagenham (London), like every English council, must license larger HMOs, and it can also designate areas for additional or selective licensing. Here’s what each means, what happens if you get it wrong, and how to check Barking and Dagenham’s current rules.

Licensing in Barking and Dagenham as at 25 September 2026

Barking and Dagenham runs selective licensing (three designated areas that together cover all 19 wards, from 6 April 2025 until 5 April 2030) and additional HMO licensing (borough-wide, from 9 January 2025 until 8 January 2030), on top of mandatory HMO licensing.

Selective licensing

Area: Three designated areas that together cover all 19 wards — Area 1: Alibon, Barking Riverside, Beam, Becontree, Chadwell Heath, Eastbury, Goresbrook, Heath, Longbridge, Mayesbrook, Parsloes, Thames View, Valence, Village and Whalebone; Area 2: Abbey, Gascoigne and Northbury; Area 3: Eastbrook & Rush Green

Scheme dates: From 6 April 2025 until 5 April 2030

Fee: Part A £650 + Part B £300, with the same £200 / £250 Part B discounts

Additional HMO licensing

Area: Borough-wide (the entire London Borough of Barking and Dagenham)

Scheme dates: From 9 January 2025 until 8 January 2030

Fee: Part A £1,000 + Part B £400, with Part B discounts of £200 (satisfactory inspection) or £250 (accredited landlord and satisfactory inspection)

Mandatory HMO licensing
Applies everywhere in Barking and Dagenham, as across England, to HMOs let to five or more people forming two or more households.

Sources (checked 25 September 2026)

Designations and fees change. Confirm your exact address and the live fee with Barking and Dagenham before you apply.

The three types of licence

  • Mandatory HMO licence. Required across England for larger HMOs — typically a property let to five or more people forming two or more households who share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet. This applies in Barking and Dagenham regardless of any local scheme.
  • Additional HMO licence. Barking and Dagenham can extend HMO licensing to smaller HMOs in designated parts of its area.
  • Selective licence. Barking and Dagenham can require a licence for all privately rented homes — including ordinary single-family lets — within a designated area. Larger schemes need government approval, and they’re used in areas with specific housing or anti-social-behaviour concerns.

The penalties for renting unlicensed in Barking and Dagenham

Letting a property that needs a licence without one is a criminal offence. You risk an unlimited fine or a civil penalty of up to £40,000, a rent repayment order of up to 24 months’ rent, and a possible banning order. (Those are the limits for offences on or after 1 May 2026, when the Renters’ Rights Act raised them from £30,000 and 12 months.)

How to check Barking and Dagenham's current schemes

Designations change, so always confirm the live position. Search Barking and Dagenham’s website for “property licensing” or “landlord licensing”, check whether your postcode falls inside a designated area, and note the licence type, the boundaries and the scheme dates. If in doubt, contact Barking and Dagenham’s private-sector housing team before you let. The summary above was checked against Barking and Dagenham’s own licensing page on 25 September 2026.

Never miss a licensing deadline

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Frequently asked questions

Do I need a licence to rent out a property in Barking and Dagenham?

As at 25 September 2026, Barking and Dagenham runs selective licensing (three designated areas that together cover all 19 wards, from 6 April 2025 until 5 April 2030) and additional HMO licensing (borough-wide, from 9 January 2025 until 8 January 2030), on top of mandatory HMO licensing. If your property is in a selective licensing area, you need a licence for any privately rented home there — including an ordinary single let — unless it is exempt or licensed as an HMO. If you let an HMO that doesn't need a mandatory licence and falls within additional licensing (borough-wide), it needs an additional HMO licence. A larger HMO (five or more people, two or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in Barking and Dagenham. Check your exact address on Barking and Dagenham's licensing page before you let.

How much does a landlord licence cost in Barking and Dagenham?

Barking and Dagenham's published fees as at 25 September 2026: Selective licence: Part A £650 + Part B £300, with the same £200 / £250 Part B discounts. Additional HMO licence: Part A £1,000 + Part B £400, with Part B discounts of £200 (satisfactory inspection) or £250 (accredited landlord and satisfactory inspection). Fees are set by the council and can change, so confirm the current figure before you apply.

What happens if I rent without a required licence in Barking and Dagenham?

Renting an unlicensed property that needs a licence is a criminal offence. You can face an unlimited fine or a civil penalty of up to £40,000, and a rent repayment order of up to 24 months' rent (the limits for offences on or after 1 May 2026).

Check landlord licensing in other areas.