London · Council licensing
Landlord licensing in Barking & Dagenham
✓ Hand-verified 20 Aug 2026Barking & Dagenham operates discretionary property licensing. Letting an unlicensed property where a scheme applies risks a civil penalty of up to £30,000 and a rent repayment order — check whether your property is covered below.
Required for any HMO let to 5 or more people forming 2+ households who share facilities.
Barking & Dagenham sets this fee under section 63(3) of the Housing Act 2004. Its current charge is not yet recorded here.
The council’s own licensing page carries the charge that applies today — confirm it there before you budget.
Not established is not the same as free.
London Borough of Barking and Dagenham operates a Selective Licensing scheme that came into force on 6 April 2025 and runs for 5 years until 5 April 2030. The scheme replaced the previous selective licensing initiative which ended in Summer 2024 . Designation under section 80 of the Housing Act 2004. Approved by Cabinet following public consultation. Three targeted designation areas within the borough. Use the postcode checker on lbbd.gov.uk/private-sector-housing/property-licensing to confirm whether a specific property is in a designated area. The previous selective scheme that ran until Summer 2024 covered different areas — landlords who were licensed under the previous scheme should NOT assume the new scheme covers the same locations. All privately rented properties (single household, single person, couples, families) within the three designated areas. HMOs are licensed under the Mandatory or Additional schemes instead. £950 per property. Discounts available for accreditation and satisfactory rating from compliance audit inspections. Comprehensive conditions covering fire safety, gas safety (annual certificate), electrical safety (5-year EICR), structural condition, anti-social behaviour management, written tenancy agreements, fit and proper person test for licence holder. Operating an unlicensed property in a designated area is a criminal offence. Civil financial penalty up to £30,000 per offence. Unlimited fine on conviction. Rent Repayment Orders for up to 12 months' rent (24 months under Renters' Rights Act 2025). Section 21 invalid where unlicensed. lbbd.gov.uk/private-sector-housing/property-licensing / Property Licensing Team.
Areas: Three designation areas covering 19 wards. Area 1: Alibon, Barking Riverside, Beam, Becontree, Chadwell Heath, Eastbury, Goresbrook, Heath, Longbridge, Mayesbrook, Parsloes, Thames View, Valence, Village, Whalebone. Area 2: Abbey, Gascoigne, Northbury. Area 3: Eastbrook and Rush Green. Approved by the Assembly 18 September 2024, made 6 January 2025. Replaced a previous scheme that ended 31 August 2024, so no selective requirement existed between September 2024 and April 2025
Paid in two parts — one on application, the balance before the licence is issued.
| Part A | £650 |
| Part B | £300 |
| Total | £1,400 |
- Renewals are charged at the same price: the schedule reads "the cost of new applications, including renewals"
- Discounts", the appendix to the Private Sector Housing Selective Licensing Scheme 2024-29 decision (ieDecisionDetails Id=4310) on lbbd
- DISCOUNTS, both off Part B: Silver compliance award £200 for a satisfactory compliance audit; Gold £250 for accreditation (LLAS, NRLA, BLA, Safeagent, Propertymark, UKALA) plus a satisfactory audit, so an accredited compliant landlord pays £700
Barking & Dagenham, read 20 August 2026
Scheme runs until: 5 April 2030
Areas: Borough-wide, all wards. Properties occupied by 3 or 4 persons forming two or more households. Approved by Cabinet 23 July 2024
Paid in two parts — one on application, the balance before the licence is issued.
| Each licence | £1,400 |
- Discounts through the silver and gold compliance awards taking £250 off the Part B fee
Barking & Dagenham — lbbd.gov.uk, read 19 Aug 2026
Scheme runs until: 8 January 2030
Common questions
Does Barking & Dagenham have a selective licensing scheme?
Yes. Barking & Dagenham operates a selective licensing scheme. Letting a property covered by it without a licence risks a civil penalty of up to £30,000, a rent repayment order of up to twelve months' rent, and the loss of the right to serve a section 21 notice.
Does Barking & Dagenham have an additional HMO licensing scheme?
Yes. Barking & Dagenham operates an additional HMO licensing scheme. Letting a property covered by it without a licence risks a civil penalty of up to £30,000, a rent repayment order of up to twelve months' rent, and the loss of the right to serve a section 21 notice.
Do I need an HMO licence in Barking & Dagenham?
A mandatory HMO licence is required anywhere in England and Wales, including Barking & Dagenham, where a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households who share basic amenities. Smaller shared houses may also need a licence where an additional licensing scheme applies.
- Free landlord compliance check — five questions, no account
- Tenancy agreement checker — findings cited to the Act and section
Selective licensing in Barking & Dagenham: areas, dates and fees →
Additional HMO licensing in Barking & Dagenham: areas, dates and fees →
All property licensing in London →
Source: Barking & Dagenham licensing page →
Every landlord in Barking & Dagenham also needs
A valid Gas Safety certificate (annual), an EICR (every 5 years), a valid EPC, a protected deposit, smoke & CO alarms, the Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet, and a current How to Rent guide — plus the new Section 8 possession rules since Section 21 was abolished on 1 May 2026.
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