Landlord licensing in London Borough of Bexley

Licensing at a glance

HMO licensing

Mandatory HMO licensing applies to any property let to five or more people forming two or more households who share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet.

Additional licensing

Additional licensing can extend licensing to smaller HMOs. Designations run for up to five years, often focusing on specific wards or streets. Check the council's website for current designations.

Selective licensing

Selective licensing can require a licence for every private rented home in a designated area, including single-family lets. Designations run for up to five years. Check the council's website for current designations before advertising.

Towns covered

Bexley

What this means for you

If you let a property in the London Borough of Bexley area, first confirm which licensing regime applies to the exact address. Mandatory HMO licensing covers properties let to five or more people forming two or more households who share facilities. Additional licensing may extend this to smaller HMOs, and selective licensing can apply to all private rented homes in designated areas, including single-family lets. Designations, boundaries, and fees in London change regularly. Always check the council's own licensing pages before a new tenancy rather than relying on past information. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 (with main provisions commencing in 2026) replaces fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies with periodic assured tenancies and ends section 21 no-fault evictions. Regardless of licensing, maintain an evidence pack for every tenancy: a current gas safety record, an EICR no more than five years old, a valid EPC, working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, deposit protection and prescribed information, and all required prescribed documents served before the tenancy starts.

Official links

• Licensing pages
• Council website