London council signs off on borough-wide landlord licensing

Hackney Council has signed off on a borough-wide licensing overhaul that will require most private landlords to obtain a licence for every home they let.

Landlords will have to fork out £925 for a single rented home, while a house in multiple occupation will cost £1,400.

The plans, agreed by the council’s cabinet after a 14-week consultation, set out a mandatory licensing regime for most rented homes from May 2026.

The council says the scheme must pay for itself, with charges covering administration, compliance work and follow-up checks.

Most landlords are good

Caroline Woodley, Hackney’s mayor, said: “Most landlords do the right thing, but too many renters face unacceptable conditions and poor property management.

“These conditions don’t just harm individual tenants, they also contribute to wider issues in Hackney – from disrepair to antisocial behaviour.

“We’ll use every tool we have to enforce against landlords who don’t play by these new rules and focus on building up a network of responsible landlords in the borough.”

Councillor Sem Moema, the deputy cabinet member for private renting, said: “This new licensing scheme alongside the introduction of the Renters’ Rights Act is a big step in ensuring that we can raise standards for people in privately rented homes, support responsible landlords and help our residents have safe and well managed homes.”

Selective licensing in Hackney

Nearly all HMOs occupied by three or more people from at least two households will fall under the new rules.

This widens the net and builds on national requirements which apply only to HMOs with five or more people.

A selective licensing scheme has also been agreed on 17 of Hackney’s 21 wards, covering 76% of rented homes.

The remainder will be covered by additional licensing measures.

Serious PRS issues

Hackney’s private rented sector accounts for almost a third of local homes.

An independent review highlighted serious problems across a large proportion of the PRS.

Inspectors found that significant hazards were nearly twice the national figure.

The findings were even more striking for HMOs, with 30% predicted to contain a serious risk, three times the rate seen across England.

The council is also warning that landlords who ignore warnings or allow unsafe conditions to persist could face unlimited fines.