Selective licensing in Lambeth
Yes. Lambeth 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 Lambeth?
Yes. Lambeth 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 Lambeth does the scheme cover?
Phase 1 from 2 September 2024: Knights Hill, Streatham Common and Vale, Streatham Hill East, Streatham St Leonard's. Phase 2 from 1 September 2025 adds 19 further wards, leaving only Vauxhall and Waterloo and South Bank excluded. Confirm a specific address against the council's own designation map before applying.
When does Lambeth's scheme end?
The designation runs until 1 September 2029, unless the council revokes it earlier under section 84 of the Housing Act 2004.
What does the licence cost?
£1,025 per property effective 1 april 2026. Councils commonly discount for accredited landlords and early applications; confirm the current figure with Lambeth before budgeting.
Paid in two parts — one on application, the balance before the licence is issued.
| Part A | £717.50 |
| Part B | £307.50 |
| Total | £1,025 |
- Discount structure (£75 accreditation and £50 EPC band C+ discounts on Part B)
Lambeth, read 30 August 2026
What the designation says
London Borough of Lambeth operates a Selective Licensing scheme in TWO PHASES — covering nearly the entire borough except 2 wards. (A) PHASE 1 — came into force on 2 September 2024 and runs for 5 years until 1 September 2029. Covers 4 wards in the south of the borough: KNIGHTS HILL, STREATHAM COMMON & VALE, STREATHAM HILL EAST, STREATHAM ST LEONARDS. Approved without Secretary of State authorization . (B) PHASE 2 — came into force on 1 September 2025 and runs for 5 years. Covers 19 ADDITIONAL wards: BRIXTON ACRE LANE, BRIXTON NORTH, BRIXTON RUSH COMMON, BRIXTON WINDRUSH, CLAPHAM COMMON & ABBEVILLE, CLAPHAM EAST, CLAPHAM PARK, CLAPHAM TOWN, GIPSY HILL, HERNE HILL & LOUGHBOROUGH JUNCTION, KENNINGTON, MYATT'S FIELD, OVAL, ST MARTIN'S, STOCKWELL EAST, STOCKWELL WEST & LARKHALL, STREATHAM HILL WEST & THORNTON, STREATHAM WELLS, WEST DULWICH. Decision made by Cabinet Member for Safer Communities on 15 May 2025. Phase 2 was initially delayed pending government approval — the rules then changed (General Approval December 2024) so external approval was no longer required. Early applications opened 1 August 2025; scheme came into force 1 September 2025. Only 2 wards in Lambeth are NOT subject to selective licensing — VAUXHALL and WATERLOO & SOUTH BANK. Every other ward in Lambeth is now in scope. All privately rented properties within the designated wards occupied by a single household or 2 unrelated sharers. Lambeth estimates over 48,000 private rented homes in the borough — the scheme will apply to tens of thousands of properties. HMOs are licensed under the Mandatory or Additional schemes instead. £923 per property — the highest selective licensing fee in London. Two-part structure (Part A on application, Part B automatically debited once draft licence is issued). Discounts: £50 off Part B for EPC rating C or better; £75 off Part B for accredited landlords (LLAS, NRLA); £100 off Part A for subsequent flats in the same block (after the first flat) where multiple properties are licensed together — applicants can submit and pay for up to 8 applications at once via the portal. Land Registry title (freehold and leasehold where applicable, dated within 28 days of application); Gas Safety Certificate; Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) plus EICR certificate evidencing remediation of any C1/C2 deficiencies; EPC if claiming the discount; current tenancy/management agreements; accreditation evidence if claiming the accreditation discount. Health and safety, fire precautions, gas/electrical safety certificates, 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. RROs up to two years' rent for offences on or after 1 May 2026 (12 months before that date). lambeth.gov.uk/housing/landlords-licensing/selective-licensing-scheme online application portal. 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 Lambeth before letting.