Do you need a landlord licence in Newham?

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

Licensing in Newham as at 25 September 2026

Newham runs selective licensing (all wards except Royal Victoria and Stratford Olympic Park, from 1 June 2023 until 31 May 2028) and additional HMO licensing (all wards except Royal Victoria and Stratford Olympic Park, from 1 January 2023 until 31 December 2027), on top of mandatory HMO licensing.

Selective licensing

Area: All wards except Royal Victoria and Stratford Olympic Park (22 of 24 wards)

Scheme dates: From 1 June 2023 until 31 May 2028

Fee: £750 (Part A £400 + Part B £350); £400 (£250 + £150) for a property newly let privately with an EPC of C or above

Additional HMO licensing

Area: All wards except Royal Victoria and Stratford Olympic Park (22 of 24 wards): HMOs shared by 3 or 4 people forming 2 or more households

Scheme dates: From 1 January 2023 until 31 December 2027

Fee: £1,250 (Part A £400 + Part B £850); £800 (£250 + £550) for a property newly let privately with an EPC of C or above

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

Newham also publishes discounts for accredited landlords and multi-dwelling applications — see its fees page.

Sources (checked 25 September 2026)

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

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 Newham's current schemes

Designations change, so always confirm the live position. Search Newham’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 Newham’s private-sector housing team before you let. The summary above was checked against Newham’s own licensing page on 25 September 2026.

Never miss a licensing deadline

LandlordReady tracks the licences and certificates each of your properties needs and warns you before they lapse — so a renewal or a new Newham scheme doesn’t catch you out.

Start with LandlordReady →

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a licence to rent out a property in Newham?

As at 25 September 2026, Newham runs selective licensing (all wards except Royal Victoria and Stratford Olympic Park, from 1 June 2023 until 31 May 2028) and additional HMO licensing (all wards except Royal Victoria and Stratford Olympic Park, from 1 January 2023 until 31 December 2027), 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 (all wards except Royal Victoria and Stratford Olympic Park), it needs an additional HMO licence. A larger HMO (five or more people, two or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in Newham. Check your exact address on Newham's licensing page before you let.

How much does a landlord licence cost in Newham?

Newham's published fees as at 25 September 2026: Selective licence: £750 (Part A £400 + Part B £350); £400 (£250 + £150) for a property newly let privately with an EPC of C or above. Additional HMO licence: £1,250 (Part A £400 + Part B £850); £800 (£250 + £550) for a property newly let privately with an EPC of C or above. 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 Newham?

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.