Selective licensing in Barking & Dagenham
Yes. Barking & Dagenham operates a selective licensing scheme. Letting a covered property 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.
What the designation says
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.
What this means for a landlord
A licence must be in place before the property is let, not applied for afterwards. Operating unlicensed in a designated area is a criminal offence: a civil penalty of up to £30,000 per offence, a rent repayment order of up to twelve months' rent, and a section 21 notice that cannot be served while the property is unlicensed. Mandatory HMO licensing applies separately and everywhere, wherever a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households.
Information tool, not legal advice. Confirm the position with Barking & Dagenham before letting.