Landlord licensing in London Borough of Havering
London · England
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 schemes are currently in place for all HMOs in the wards of Cranham, Emerson Park, Havering-atte-Bower, Hylands and St Andrew's. Additionally, all HMOs within the Brooklands, Gooshays, Heaton, North End, South Hornchurch and Wennington wards are subject to an Additional Licensing scheme. Check the council's website for full details and current designations.
- Selective licensing
- A selective licensing scheme applies to all privately rented properties in the wards of Brooklands, Gooshays, Heaton, North End, South Hornchurch and Wennington. Check the council's website for full details and current designations.
- Typical fees
- Varies by scheme and property type. Check the council's website for current fees and discounts.
- Towns covered
- Havering
What this means for you
If you let a property in the London Borough of Havering area, the first job is to confirm which licensing regime the exact address falls under. 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 can extend licensing to smaller HMOs. Designations run for up to five years and are ward- or street-specific, so confirm the position for the exact address. Selective licensing can require a licence for every private rented home in a designated area, including single-family lets. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 (main provisions commence 2026) replaces fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies with periodic assured tenancies, ends section 21 no-fault evictions, and introduces a national landlord database and ombudsman. Whatever the licensing position, landlords must ensure a current gas safety record where there is gas, an EICR no more than five years old, a valid EPC, working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, deposit protection and prescribed information, and the required prescribed documents served before the tenancy starts.
Official links
Licensing designations, fees and boundaries change regularly. This page is a general summary, not legal advice — always confirm the position for the exact address with London Borough of Havering before letting. Last reviewed 2 August 2026.