Do you need a landlord licence in Lambeth?

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

Licensing in Lambeth as at 25 September 2026

Lambeth runs selective licensing (every ward except Vauxhall, and Waterloo & South Bank, since 2 September 2024) and additional HMO licensing (borough-wide, from 9 December 2021 until 8 December 2026), on top of mandatory HMO licensing.

Selective licensing

Area: Every ward except Vauxhall, and Waterloo & South Bank

Scheme dates: Since 2 September 2024

Fee: £1,025 (Part A £717.50 + Part B £307.50); £50 off Part B for an EPC of C or better, £75 off if accredited

Additional HMO licensing

Area: Borough-wide

Scheme dates: From 9 December 2021 until 8 December 2026

Fee: £550 per letting (habitable room): Part A £366.67 + Part B £183.33, with £75 off Part B for accredited landlords

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

Selective licensing came in in two phases: Knights Hill, Streatham Common and Vale, Streatham Hill East and Streatham St Leonard's from 2 September 2024, and the remaining wards from 1 September 2025. The additional HMO designation ends on 8 December 2026. Lambeth's pages did not show a renewal or a new designation when we checked, so confirm the position for smaller HMOs after that date.

Sources (checked 25 September 2026)

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

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 Lambeth's current schemes

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

As at 25 September 2026, Lambeth runs selective licensing (every ward except Vauxhall, and Waterloo & South Bank, since 2 September 2024) and additional HMO licensing (borough-wide, from 9 December 2021 until 8 December 2026), 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 Lambeth. Check your exact address on Lambeth's licensing page before you let.

How much does a landlord licence cost in Lambeth?

Lambeth's published fees as at 25 September 2026: Selective licence: £1,025 (Part A £717.50 + Part B £307.50); £50 off Part B for an EPC of C or better, £75 off if accredited. Additional HMO licence: £550 per letting (habitable room): Part A £366.67 + Part B £183.33, with £75 off Part B for accredited landlords. 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 Lambeth?

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.