Selective licensing in Lewisham
Yes. Lewisham 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 Lewisham?
Yes. Lewisham 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 Lewisham does the scheme cover?
Three designations covering 16 wards, being all wards except Telegraph Hill and a small area of Blackheath, on pre-May 2022 boundaries. Designation one: Brockley, Catford South, Lewisham Central, New Cross, Perry Vale, Rushey Green. Designation two: Crofton Park, Evelyn, Ladywell, Lee Green, Sydenham. Designation three: Bellingham, Downham, Forest Hill, Grove Park, Whitefoot. Made 8 March 2023, confirmed by the Secretary of State 30 November 2023. Confirm a specific address against the council's own designation map before applying.
When does Lewisham's scheme end?
The designation runs until 1 July 2029, unless the council revokes it earlier under section 84 of the Housing Act 2004.
What does the licence cost?
£640. Councils commonly discount for accredited landlords and early applications; confirm the current figure with Lewisham before budgeting.
Paid in two parts — one on application, the balance before the licence is issued.
| On application | £160 |
| On grant | £480 |
| Total | £640 |
Lewisham, read 28 August 2026
What the designation says
Lewisham operates a selective licensing scheme that came into force on 1 July 2024. It covers 18 wards — effectively the whole borough except Telegraph Hill and a small part of Blackheath — and around 20,000 properties. Nearly every privately rented home not already caught by the borough's HMO licensing schemes needs a selective licence, so an ordinary flat or a house let to a single household is covered as well as shared housing. Licences normally run for five years, though the council may issue a shorter one. The basic fee is £640, taken in two parts: £160 on application and £480 on grant. Discounts are applied to the second payment for accredited landlords, eligible charities and early applications, with a 20% reduction for applications made in the first three months of the scheme. Letting an unlicensed property is a criminal offence carrying a civil penalty of up to £40,000 or prosecution, and exposes the landlord to a rent repayment order. 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 Lewisham before letting.