Verified · 27 July 2026
Hackney: landlord licensing, explained and verified
Every English council sets its own additional and selective licensing on top of the national HMO rules. This is the current position in Hackney, verified on 27 July 2026. Check any postcode free in 10 seconds with the licence checker.
Mandatory HMO licensing in Hackney
The national rule applies everywhere in England: a house in multiple occupation with 5 or more occupants forming 2 or more households must be licensed. In Hackney, the standard licence fee is around £1400. Letting a licensable HMO without a licence risks a civil penalty of up to £30,000 or an unlimited fine.
Additional licensing in Hackney
Hackney runs additional HMO licensing, which extends licensing to smaller HMOs. The scheme runs 01/05/2026 to 01/05/2031, applies from 3+ occupants, fee from £1400. Area: Borough-wide. If you let a shared house here below the mandatory threshold, check whether it falls inside the designation.
Selective licensing in Hackney
Hackney runs selective licensing, which covers all privately rented homes in the designated area, regardless of size or occupancy. The scheme runs 01/05/2026 to 01/05/2031, fee from £925. Designated wards: Brownswood, Cazenove, Clissold, Dalston, De Beauvoir, Hackney Central, Hackney Downs, Hackney Wick, Homerton, King's Park, Lea Bridge, London Fields, Shacklewell, Springfield, Stamford Hill West, Stoke Newington, Victoria. A single rented flat or house inside the area needs a licence.
What getting it wrong costs
Letting an unlicensed property that needed a licence carries civil penalties of up to £30,000 per property (up to £40,000 for some offences under the Renters’ Rights Act), rent repayment orders of up to 24 months of rent, and you cannot serve a valid Section 21 notice while unlicensed. “I didn’t know” is not a defence.
How fresh is this page?
This page was last verified on 27 July 2026, and we keep it current as schemes and fees change. Rules and fees change (most councils revise fees each April), so always confirm with the council directly before applying.
Licensing in other councils
Every English council sets its own schemes. Great Yarmouth · Greenwich · Guildford · Halton · Hammersmith and Fulham · Harborough · or browse all councils A to Z.
Letting in Hackney? Know where every property stands.
SUCASA tracks licensing, gas, EICR, EPC, alarms and deposit protection per property, alerts you before anything expires, and warns you when Hackney changes its rules. Free for your first property.
Check what your properties needFAQ
Do I need an HMO licence in Hackney?
Any HMO with 5+ occupants forming 2+ households needs a mandatory licence. Hackney also runs additional licensing, so smaller HMOs (from 3+ occupants) may need one too.
Does Hackney have selective licensing?
Yes. Selective licensing covers all privately rented homes in the designated area, currently running until 01/05/2031. Check whether your property's ward is inside the designation.
How much is an HMO licence in Hackney?
The standard mandatory HMO licence fee in Hackney is around £1400. Fees are often multi-part or per-bedroom and usually change each April, so confirm on the council page before applying.
How is this information kept up to date?
This data was last verified on 27 July 2026, and we keep it current as schemes and fees change. Landlords on SUCASA get alerted the moment rules change.
Hackney council licensing pages · gov.uk HMO licensing · All councils A to Z