Landlord licensing in Tower Hamlets

Required for any HMO let to 5 or more people forming 2+ households who share facilities.

Fee: £1,100

SCHEME OVERVIEW: Tower Hamlets renewed its Selective Licensing Scheme for a further 5 years from 1 October 2021, running until 30 September 2026. The scheme was renewed following the Future of the Selective Licensing Scheme consultation and online surveys conducted in late 2020, made under section 80 of the Housing Act 2004 (source: towerhamlets.gov.uk/lgnl/housing/Private-tenants-landlords-and-homeowners/Private-Landlords/Selective_Licensing.aspx). COVERAGE: Four specific wards — Spitalfields & Banglatown, Stepney Green, Weavers, and Whitechapel. The scheme is NOT borough-wide for selective licensing (unlike the borough-wide additional HMO scheme). Within these four wards, ALL privately rented properties must be licensed regardless of the number of tenants — including single-family lets, single-occupant lets, couples, families, and any HMOs that do not meet the Mandatory or Additional licensing criteria. RATIONALE: The selective scheme was designated to address poor housing conditions, anti-social behaviour, and low management standards in the private rented sector across these specific wards, which had grown rapidly during the borough's 135% private rented sector expansion between 2001 and 2011. FEES: £747 for an online application. £45 surcharge if paying in two instalments. Lower fees apply to renewals. Additional charges for incomplete or postal applications. The council does not list any fee discount for accredited landlords. Note: from 2026/27 the fee schedule may increase — applications submitted with fees lower than the 2026/27 published rate will be contacted by the Council to settle the balance, and no licence will be granted until the full Part A and Part B fees are paid. LICENCE TERM: Valid for 5 years assuming no significant changes to the property or ownership. The licence holder must inform the council if changes occur. The council can issue a licence for a shorter term if circumstances warrant. LICENCE CONDITIONS (every licence): Annual gas safety certificate; proof electrical appliances and furniture are kept safe; functioning fire detection and smoke alarm system; written tenancy agreement for every occupier; overall property management standards. The licence specifies maximum occupancy. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS: Online via the council's licensing portal. Documents required: annual gas safety certificate, Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR), Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), tenancy agreements, floor plans. Overseas landlords must demonstrate a UK-based responsible person with authority and funds for urgent repairs (see overseas landlords FAQ). UK-based contact details are expected for all licence holders. ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES: Operating an unlicensed property results in criminal conviction with unlimited fine OR a Financial Penalty up to £30,000 per offence. Tower Hamlets Council has demonstrated active enforcement — for example two landlord firms were fined £15,303 for renting an unlicensed property and failing to address safety issues including missing CO alarm and faulty locks (source: kammadata.com/uk-property-guide/property-licensing-guide-for-tower-hamlets, citing council enforcement records). Convictions affect "fit and proper person" status. Tenants may pursue Rent Repayment Orders via the First-tier Tribunal. Section 21 notices are invalid where the property is unlicensed. EXEMPTIONS: Statutory exemptions are contained in Schedule 14 of the Housing Act 2004 — including properties controlled or managed by a Local Housing Authority, registered social landlords, or registered providers of social housing. Temporary exemptions of up to 3 months can be granted (e.g. property being marketed for sale). Properties subject to Mandatory or Additional HMO licensing do not separately require a Selective Licence. CONTACT: housinglicensing@towerhamlets.gov.uk / 020 7364 5008 / Environmental Health and Trading Standards, Tower Hamlets Town Hall, 160 Whitechapel Road, London E1 1BJ.

Areas: Borough-wide selective licensing for all privately rented properties

Fee: £650

Scheme runs until: 30 June 2028

SCHEME OVERVIEW: On 25 October 2023 the Mayor of Tower Hamlets in Cabinet designated the WHOLE BOROUGH as an area for Additional Licensing under section 56 of the Housing Act 2004. The designation came into force on 1 April 2024 and will remain in force until 31 March 2029 (5-year designation), unless revoked earlier under section 60 of the Housing Act 2004. This replaced the previous area-specific scheme that ran 2019-2024 (source: towerhamlets.gov.uk/lgnl/housing/Private-tenants-landlords-and-homeowners/Private-Landlords/Additional_Licensing_Scheme.aspx). WHO NEEDS A LICENCE: All privately let properties — including flats, irrespective of the number of storeys — that are occupied by 3 or more persons forming 2 or more households. Definition is supported by sections 254, 257 and 258 of the Housing Act 2004. The designation also covers Section 257 HMOs: buildings converted into self-contained flats that did NOT comply with the Building Regulations in force at the time of conversion (and still do not), where ALL of the flats in the building are privately rented (Tower Hamlets has restricted its s257 scheme to buildings where all flats are privately rented, stricter than the standard 2/3 threshold). This designation also includes all relevant multi-let properties within the Selective Licensing area. NOT COVERED: Properties below the 3-person/2-household threshold (unless inside the Selective Licensing area). Halls of residence and student accommodation owned by educational establishments. Mandatory HMO licensing (5+ persons) applies separately and borough-wide. FEES: Additional licence application fee is £756 for an online submission, plus £54.50 for each habitable room. £47.50 surcharge to pay in two instalments. Lower fees apply to renewals. The council does NOT list any fee discount for accredited landlords (source: kammadata.com/uk-property-guide/property-licensing-guide-for-tower-hamlets and londonpropertylicensing.co.uk/tower-hamlets, both citing council fee schedule). LICENCE CONDITIONS (every licence): Annual gas safety certificate; proof electrical appliances and furniture are safe; functioning fire detection and smoke alarm system; written tenancy agreement for each occupier; overall property management standards. Maximum number of occupants is specified on each licence. Tower Hamlets adopted amenity and room-size standards at its October 2018 Cabinet meeting — minimum sleeping rooms 6.51m² for one adult, 10.22m² for two adults. The council can impose larger minimums. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS: Online via Tower Hamlets HMO Licensing Portal. Required documents: annual gas safety certificate, EICR, EPC, floor plans showing room and kitchen sizes, current tenancy agreements, evidence of competent property management. Fit and proper person test for the licence holder, assessed by an Environmental Health Officer. ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES: Operating an unlicensed property that should be licensed can result in criminal conviction and unlimited fine OR a Financial Penalty of up to £30,000 per offence under section 72(1) Housing Act 2004. Convictions affect "fit and proper person" status and may bar future licence applications. Additional consequences: tenants may apply to the First-tier Tribunal for a Rent Repayment Order (up to 12 months' rent), which the Renters' Rights Act 2025 has strengthened. Section 21 notices are invalid where the property is unlicensed; the no-fault possession grounds under the Renters' Rights Act 2025 are also unavailable to landlords of unlicensed properties. REGISTER: Tower Hamlets maintains a public register under section 232 of the Housing Act 2004. As of August 2025 the register listed 641 mandatory HMO licences, 4,421 additional licences, and 6,357 selective licences in force. CONTACT: housinglicensing@towerhamlets.gov.uk / 020 7364 5008 / Environmental Health and Trading Standards, Tower Hamlets Town Hall, 160 Whitechapel Road, London E1 1BJ.

Areas: Borough-wide additional licensing for HMOs occupied by 3 or 4 people in all wards

Fee: £650