Do you need a landlord licence in Hackney?

Whether you need a licence to let a property in Hackney depends on the type of property and exactly where it is. Hackney (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 Hackney’s current rules.

Licensing in Hackney as at 25 September 2026

Hackney runs selective licensing (17 of 21 wards, from 1 May 2026 until 30 April 2031) and additional HMO licensing (borough-wide, from 1 May 2026 until 30 April 2031), on top of mandatory HMO licensing.

Selective licensing

Area: 17 of 21 wards: Brownswood, Cazenove, Clissold, Dalston, De Beauvoir, Hackney Central, Hackney Downs, Hackney Wick, Homerton, King's Park, Lea Bridge, London Fields, Shacklewell, Springfield, Stamford Hill West, Stoke Newington and Victoria

Scheme dates: From 1 May 2026 until 30 April 2031

Fee: £925 (Part A £555 on application + Part B £370 on approval)

Additional HMO licensing

Area: Borough-wide: HMOs with 3 or more people in 2 or more households that don't need a mandatory licence

Scheme dates: From 1 May 2026 until 30 April 2031

Fee: £1,400 (Part A £840 on application + Part B £560 on approval)

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

Discounts come off Part B: £100 for an EPC of B or above (£50 for C) and £100 for accredited landlords; multi-dwelling applications get £100 off Part A.

Sources (checked 25 September 2026)

Designations and fees change. Confirm your exact address and the live fee with Hackney 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 Hackney regardless of any local scheme.
  • Additional HMO licence. Hackney can extend HMO licensing to smaller HMOs in designated parts of its area.
  • Selective licence. Hackney 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 Hackney

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 Hackney's current schemes

Designations change, so always confirm the live position. Search Hackney’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 Hackney’s private-sector housing team before you let. The summary above was checked against Hackney’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 Hackney?

As at 25 September 2026, Hackney runs selective licensing (17 of 21 wards, from 1 May 2026 until 30 April 2031) and additional HMO licensing (borough-wide, from 1 May 2026 until 30 April 2031), 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 Hackney. Check your exact address on Hackney's licensing page before you let.

How much does a landlord licence cost in Hackney?

Hackney's published fees as at 25 September 2026: Selective licence: £925 (Part A £555 on application + Part B £370 on approval). Additional HMO licence: £1,400 (Part A £840 on application + Part B £560 on approval). 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 Hackney?

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.