Verified · 6 July 2026
Lambeth: 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 Lambeth, verified on 6 July 2026. Check any postcode free in 10 seconds with the licence checker.
Mandatory HMO licensing in Lambeth
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 Lambeth, the standard licence fee is around £550. Letting a licensable HMO without a licence risks a civil penalty of up to £30,000 or an unlimited fine.
Additional licensing in Lambeth
Lambeth runs additional HMO licensing, which extends licensing to smaller HMOs. The scheme runs 09/12/2021 to 08/12/2026, applies from 3+ occupants, fee from £1560. Area: Borough-wide. If you let a shared house here below the mandatory threshold, check whether it falls inside the designation.
Selective licensing in Lambeth
Lambeth runs selective licensing, which covers all privately rented homes in the designated area, regardless of size or occupancy. The scheme runs 01/09/2025 to 31/08/2030, fee from £1025. Designated wards: Brixton Acre Lane, Brixton North, Brixton Rush Common, Brixton Windrush, Clapham Common & Abbeville, Clapham East, Clapham Park, Clapham Town, Gipsy Hill, Herne Hill & Loughborough Junction, Kennington, Myatts Field, Oval, St Martins, Stockwell East, Stockwell West & Larkhall, Streatham Hill West & Thornton, Streatham Wells, West Dulwich. The scheme runs 02/09/2024 to 01/09/2029, fee from £1025. Designated wards: Knights Hill, Streatham Common & Vale, Streatham Hill East, Streatham St Leonard's. A single rented flat or house inside the area needs a licence.
Upcoming licensing changes in Lambeth
The current borough-wide Additional HMO Licensing scheme is set to expire on 08/12/2026.
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 6 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. Kingston upon Thames · Kirklees · Knowsley · Lancaster · Leeds · Leicester · or browse all councils A to Z.
Letting in Lambeth? 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 Lambeth changes its rules. Free for your first property.
Check what your properties needFAQ
Do I need an HMO licence in Lambeth?
Any HMO with 5+ occupants forming 2+ households needs a mandatory licence. Lambeth also runs additional licensing, so smaller HMOs (from 3+ occupants) may need one too.
Does Lambeth have selective licensing?
Yes. Selective licensing covers all privately rented homes in the designated area, currently running until 31/08/2030. Check whether your property's ward is inside the designation.
How much is an HMO licence in Lambeth?
The standard mandatory HMO licence fee in Lambeth is around £550. 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 6 July 2026, and we keep it current as schemes and fees change. Landlords on SUCASA get alerted the moment rules change.