Landlord licensing in London Borough of Lewisham

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 extends to smaller HMOs not covered by mandatory licensing. Designations are ward or street specific, running for up to five years. Always confirm the exact requirements for the property address.

Selective licensing

Selective licensing can require a licence for every private rented home in a designated area. This includes single-family lets. Check the council's website for current designations before advertising.

Towns covered

Lewisham

What this means for you

If you let a property in the London Borough of Lewisham, first confirm which licensing regime applies to the exact address. Mandatory HMO licensing applies to properties let to five or more people forming two or more households who share facilities. Additional licensing may extend to smaller HMOs, with designations running for up to five years and varying by ward or street. Selective licensing can require a licence for all private rented homes in designated areas, including single-family lets. Always check current designations and boundaries on the council's website before advertising, as these can change. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 (main provisions commencing 2026) introduced periodic assured tenancies and ended section 21 'no-fault' evictions. Ensure compliance with statutory safety requirements: a current gas safety record, an EICR no more than five years old, a valid EPC, working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, deposit protection with prescribed information, and all other prescribed documents served before the tenancy starts. Landlords also need to be aware of the new national landlord database and ombudsman.

Official links

• Licensing pages
• Council website