Hackney Landlords — 1 May 2026 Compliance Checklist
On 1 May 2026 three regimes go live the same day — Hackney’s selective + additional HMO licensing schemes and the Renters’ Rights Act. Civil penalties up to £40,000 per offence, issued without warning. This is the page to print on the evening of 30 April 2026.
Stacked Changes Going Live 1 May 2026
- 1
Hackney Selective Licensing (17 wards)
Every privately rented property in 17 wards needs a £925 licence — not just HMOs. ~76% of Hackney's PRS in scope.
Source: Cabinet 27 Nov 2025 · Gazette 5046077Hackney licensing page → - 2
Hackney Additional HMO Licensing (borough-wide)
All HMOs with 3–4 occupants forming 2+ households need a £1,400 licence. Section 257 HMOs excluded. Mandatory HMO scheme (5+ occupants) continues borough-wide at £1,400 from 1 April.
Source: Cabinet 27 Nov 2025 · Gazette 5046077Hackney licensing page → - 3
Renters' Rights Act commencement
Section 21 evictions abolished, fixed-term ASTs converted to statutory periodic tenancies, deposit cap, £40,000 civil penalty regime, RRO 24-month window doubled.
Source: Royal Assent 30 Oct 2025 · commencement 1 May 2026RRA guide → - 4
£40,000 civil penalty regime live
Maximum civil penalty quadruples from £30k → £40k for housing offences (licensing breaches included). Issued by Hackney without prior warning.
Source: Renters' Rights Act 2025 §111RRA guide → - 5
Section 8 Ground 8 hardening
From 1 May 2026 Ground 8 rent-arrears notices may not be served unless the landlord can evidence current Gas Safety Certificate, EICR and EPC. No certs = no possession.
Source: RRA 2025 transitional regsRRA guide → - 6
Section 8 safety-cert gating (extended)
All Section 8 grounds requiring 'reasonableness' now allow courts to refuse possession where landlord cannot produce valid safety certificates at hearing.
Source: RRA 2025 §27 transitionalRRA guide → - 7
RRO ceiling doubled (12 → 24 months)
Tenants can apply for Rent Repayment Orders covering up to 24 months — backdated to before the RRA commences. Average award already £15k+ in London tribunals.
Source: RRA 2025 §63 / RRO regsRRO calculator → - 8
Written Information Sheet to tenants — 31 May deadline
Landlords must serve a written 'information sheet' covering RRA tenancy rights to all current tenants by 31 May 2026. Failure is a civil penalty offence.
Source: RRA 2025 commencement regsWritten Information page →
Pre-1-May Checklist
- □Confirm whether your property sits in one of the 17 selective wards (see list below).
- □Apply on propertylicensing.hackney.gov.uk before 1 May 2026.
- □Renew Gas Safety Certificate (CP12) and email to gas.safetychecks@hackney.gov.uk.
- □Renew EICR if older than 5 years.
- □Confirm EPC current and at rating E+ (C+ unlocks Hackney's discount).
- □Install/test smoke alarms on every storey and CO alarms in every room with a fixed combustion appliance.
- □Fire Risk Assessment for HMOs.
- □If letting an HMO 3–4 occupants, file additional HMO application (£1,400).
- □Prepare and serve the written 'information sheet' to existing tenants before 31 May 2026.
- □Convert any fixed-term ASTs ending after 1 May to statutory periodic tenancy paperwork.
- □Audit deposit holdings against the new RRA cap.
The 17 Selective Licensing Wards
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