Do I need a landlord licence in Lewisham?

Yes — some rentals in Lewisham 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 Lewisham

Yes — a scheme is in force

Selective licensing came into effect on 1 July 2024 and runs for five years (to 30 June 2029), covering 18 of the borough's wards — effectively the whole borough except Telegraph Hill and a small part of Blackheath. It covers roughly 20,000 privately rented properties. 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 Lewisham

Yes — a scheme is in force

A borough-wide additional HMO licensing scheme came into force on 5 April 2022 and runs for five years to 4 April 2027, applying to any HMO in Lewisham not caught by the national mandatory scheme, including three or four person shared houses, purpose-built flats shared by three or more people, and larger lodger arrangements. 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 Lewisham 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 Lewisham?
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 Lewisham’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 Lewisham?
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 Lewisham’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. Lewisham’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.