Selective licensing in Southwark
Yes. Southwark 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 Southwark?
Yes. Southwark 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 Southwark does the scheme cover?
Four designations. Designations 1 and 2, made 28 October 2021, in force 1 March 2022 to 28 February 2027: Champion Hill, Faraday, Goose Green, Newington, St Giles. Designations 3 and 4, made 6 December 2022 and confirmed by the Secretary of State 14 June 2023, in force 1 November 2023 to 31 October 2028. Designation 3: North Walworth, Nunhead and Queen's Road, Old Kent Road, Peckham. Designation 4: Camberwell Green, Chaucer, Dulwich Hill, Dulwich Wood, London Bridge and West Bermondsey, Peckham Rye, Rotherhithe, Rye Lane, South Bermondsey, Surrey Docks. Confirm a specific address against the council's own designation map before applying.
When does Southwark's scheme end?
The designation runs until 28 February 2027, unless the council revokes it earlier under section 84 of the Housing Act 2004.
What does the licence cost?
£945. Councils commonly discount for accredited landlords and early applications; confirm the current figure with Southwark before budgeting.
Paid in two parts — one on application, the balance before the licence is issued.
| Part A | £661.50 |
| Part B | £283.50 |
| Total | £945 |
Southwark, read 28 August 2026
What the designation says
Southwark operates selective licensing through a series of separate ward designations rather than a single borough-wide scheme, so whether a property needs a licence depends on which ward it sits in and which designation covers it. Designation 3 covers North Walworth, Nunhead and Queen's Road, Old Kent Road and Peckham. Designation 4 covers Camberwell Green, Chaucer, Dulwich Hill, Dulwich Wood, London Bridge and West Bermondsey, Peckham Rye, Rotherhithe, Rye Lane, South Bermondsey and Surrey Docks. Earlier designations were made in October 2021 and December 2022. Each designation runs for five years from its own start date, so they expire at different times. Selective licensing applies to privately rented homes that are not already caught by mandatory or additional HMO licensing, which means an ordinary flat or a house let to a single household. The council splits the fee into two payments: an application charge covering processing, then a further charge before the licence is issued, covering enforcement. Because the designations differ, a landlord should check their specific address against the council's published lists rather than assume a borough-wide position. Letting without a required licence 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 Southwark before letting.