Landlord guide for London

Landlord licensing and compliance reference for London (32 boroughs + City of London, Greater London; population ~8.9 million).

Licensing position

London has no single landlord licensing scheme — each of the 33 local authorities sets its own selective, additional and mandatory HMO rules. Schemes are renewed every 5 years and can be borough-wide or limited to named wards.

• Mandatory HMO licensing applies UK-wide to any HMO occupied by 5+ people from 2+ households.
• Several boroughs (e.g. Newham, Croydon, Waltham Forest, Tower Hamlets) operate borough-wide selective schemes covering most or all private rentals.
• Additional HMO schemes catch smaller (3-4 person) HMOs in many inner boroughs.
• Always check your specific borough — schemes lapse, renew and expand frequently.

Local notes

• TfL congestion / ULEZ rules can affect tradesperson visit costs.
• Mayor's London Rogue Landlord Checker publishes prosecutions across all boroughs.
• Shared Ownership / Section 106 lets carry separate restrictions outside private landlord rules.

Indicative London PRS rent (ONS, 2025) sits around £2,200/month average — varies dramatically by borough.

Council licensing page: https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council

Reference data only — always confirm the current scheme on the council's own page.