Additional HMO licensing in Waltham Forest

What the designation says

London Borough of Waltham Forest operates a BOROUGH-WIDE Additional HMO Licensing Scheme. The current scheme is the renewal designation that came into force on 1 April 2025 and runs for 5 years until 31 March 2030 . The original scheme started 1 April 2020 and ended 31 March 2025; the renewal was approved at Cabinet on 9 July 2024. Designation under section 56 of the Housing Act 2004. Borough-wide. All HMOs occupied by 3 or more persons forming 2+ households sharing one or more basic amenities (WC, personal washing facilities, cooking facilities) that are not already licensable under Mandatory HMO Licensing. Section 257 HMOs (converted blocks of flats) are EXCLUDED from the additional licensing scheme. Individual rented flats within such a building would need a SELECTIVE licence if occupied by a single household or two unrelated sharers; if a flat is itself multiply occupied it would need an additional or mandatory HMO licence depending on the number of occupants. £1,200 per property for the additional HMO licence (current as of July 2025 — note one source quotes £895 which appears to relate to selective; the £1,200 figure aligns with London Property Licensing's Waltham Forest guide). Higher fee bands apply to larger properties. Various energy efficiency, multi-property, and charity fee discounts available. Verify current fees on walthamforest.gov.uk. Comprehensive covering kitchen/bathroom facilities, room sizes, fire safety, gas safety (annual certificate), electrical safety (5-year EICR), structural condition, waste management, anti-social behaviour management, fit and proper person test for licence holder, written tenancy agreements. Waltham Forest publishes local HMO guidance covering specific issues — view at walthamforest.gov.uk. Waltham Forest is one of the highest-volume property licensing councils in the UK. Per Kamma data (March 2025), Waltham Forest leads UK selective licensing volumes with 22,410 selectively licensed properties generating £15.7m in revenue. Civil financial penalty up to £30,000 per offence. Unlimited fine on conviction. RROs up to 12 months (24 months under Renters' Rights Act 2025). Section 21 invalid where unlicensed. Private Sector Housing and Licensing Team, London Borough of Waltham Forest, Town Hall, Fellowship Square, Forest Road, London E17 4JF. Tel 020 8496 4949. Email propertylicensing@walthamforest.gov.uk.

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 £30,000 per offence, a rent repayment order of up to twelve months' rent, and a section 21 notice that cannot be served while the property is unlicensed. Mandatory HMO licensing applies separately and everywhere, wherever a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households.

Waltham Forest's own licensing page →