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 £40,000 and a rent repayment order of up to two years' rent.
Common questions
Do I need a selective licence 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 £40,000 and a rent repayment order of up to two years' rent.
Which areas of Barking & Dagenham does the scheme cover?
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. Confirm a specific address against the council's own designation map before applying.
When does Barking & Dagenham's scheme end?
The designation runs until 5 April 2030, unless the council revokes it earlier under section 84 of the Housing Act 2004.
What does the licence cost?
£950. Councils commonly discount for accredited landlords and early applications; confirm the current figure with Barking & Dagenham before budgeting.
Paid in two parts — one on application, the balance before the licence is issued.
| Part A | £470 |
| Part B | £430 |
| Total | £950 |
- Discounts and Exemptions page is bot-protected and could not be read (checked 30 Aug and 6 Sep 2026)
- Discounts of £200 (Silver Compliance Award) and £250 (Gold) off the Part B fee
Barking & Dagenham — a council source for the current scheme. A new borough-wide selective scheme commenced, read 6 April 2025
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 £40,000 per offence. Unlimited fine on conviction. Rent Repayment Orders for up to two years' rent for offences on or after 1 May 2026 (12 months before that date). lbbd.gov.uk/private-sector-housing/property-licensing / Property Licensing Team. Section 21 was abolished on 1 May 2026; possession now runs through the amended section 8 grounds. The £40,000 ceiling applies to offences committed on or after 1 May 2026; the £30,000 ceiling still applies to offences committed before that date.
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 £40,000 per offence and a rent repayment order of up to two years' rent. Both maxima apply to conduct on or after 1 May 2026; before that date they were £30,000 and twelve months. Section 21 was abolished on 1 May 2026 and possession now runs through the amended section 8 grounds. 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.