Do I need a landlord licence in Lambeth?

Yes — some rentals in Lambeth need a licence beyond the national HMO rules. Whether yours does depends on the property’s address and who lives there.

Mandatory HMO licensing (national)

Yes, everywhere in England

This is national law, not a council choice: any property rented to 5 or more people who form 2 or more separate households is a licensable HMO anywhere in England. If that describes your property, you need a licence from the council whether or not it runs any local scheme.

Official council source →

Selective licensing in Lambeth

Yes — a scheme is in force

Selective licensing covers 23 of Lambeth's 25 wards (all except Vauxhall and Waterloo & South Bank) for homes let to a single-family household or no more than two unrelated sharers. Phase 1 started on 2 September 2024 covering Knight's Hill, Streatham Common and Vale, Streatham Hill East and Streatham St Leonard's; Phase 2 started on 1 September 2025 covering the remaining 19 wards. If your property falls inside the designation, letting it without a selective licence is a criminal offence. Schemes change and new designations appear, so always confirm on the council’s own page before relying on this.

Official council source →

Additional HMO licensing in Lambeth

Yes — a scheme is in force

Borough-wide additional HMO licensing came into force on 9 December 2021 and covers any property occupied by three or more individuals not caught by mandatory licensing, including multiple-occupied flats in purpose-built blocks and certain converted buildings. The five-year designation runs to 8 December 2026. If your property falls inside the designation, letting it without a additional licence is a criminal offence. Schemes change and new designations appear, so always confirm on the council’s own page before relying on this.

Official council source →

Is your exact property covered?

Designations in Lambeth can run street by street. Check where your property stands in 3 minutes — free, no account.

Get your free compliance scoreFull audit + call — £99

Common questions

Do I need a landlord licence in Lambeth?
It depends on the property: larger HMOs (5 or more people from 2 or more households) always need a mandatory licence anywhere in England, and Lambeth’s own selective or additional schemes can extend licensing to other rentals — see the current position above.
What happens if I let an unlicensed property in Lambeth?
Letting a licensable property without a licence is a criminal offence: unlimited fines on conviction or civil penalties of up to £30,000, a rent repayment order of up to 12 months’ rent, and restrictions on regaining possession.
How do I check if my exact address is inside a licensing area?
Designations are often street-by-street. Check the map or address checker on Lambeth’s licensing pages (linked above), or take our free compliance score and we’ll flag licensing as something to verify for your property.
How much does a landlord licence cost?
Fees are set per council and per scheme, typically several hundred pounds per property for a five-year licence. Lambeth’s current fees are on the official page linked above.
Can LetClerk handle the licence application for me?
Yes — checking your address against current schemes and preparing the application is part of our done-for-you compliance service. Start with the free score or the £99 audit and we’ll take it from there.