Havering Landlord Licensing

Havering's additional HMO and selective licensing schemes launch on March 18, 2026. Applications have been open since January 25, 2026. Landlords in affected wards should apply now to avoid enforcement action.

The seven designated wards are: Beam Park, Harold Wood, Rainham & Wennington, Rush Green & Crowlands, Squirrels Heath, St Alban's, and St Edward's. All privately rented properties in these wards will require a selective licence.

The selective licence fee is £950 (Part A £570 + Part B £380), up from £900 under the previous scheme. Discounts apply to Part B: £75 off for EPC rating C or above, £100 off for NLA/RLA/ARLA accredited landlords. Discounts are stackable — save up to £175.

The additional HMO licence fee is £1,400 (Part A £840 + Part B £560) — a 55.6% increase from the previous £900 fee. The same discount structure applies: £75 off for EPC C+, £100 off for NLA/RLA/ARLA accreditation (stackable, save up to £175). Part A is non-refundable if the application is refused, rejected, or withdrawn.

You will need: a valid EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report), a current gas safety certificate (CP12), a fire risk assessment, an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), floor plans with room measurements, building insurance, proof of identity, and proof of ownership or managing agent authorisation.

Operating without a required licence is a criminal offence under the Housing Act 2004. Havering Council can issue civil penalties of up to £40,000 per offence, prosecute (unlimited fine), and tenants may be able to apply for a Rent Repayment Order to recover up to 24 months' rent.

Havering's online portal at housingpropertylicence.havering.gov.uk has been unreliable since enforcement went live (4+ consecutive failures). The most reliable way to apply is by emailing landlordlicensing@havering.gov.uk or calling 01708 432006. You can still try the portal, but have the email/phone option ready. Applications have been open since January 25, 2026. You will need your compliance documents (EICR, gas safety, fire risk assessment, EPC, floor plans) ready to submit.

Mandatory HMO licensing applies to larger HMOs with 5 or more occupants forming 2 or more households. This is a national requirement (not Havering-specific). The fee in Havering ranges from £1,063 to £1,704 depending on the property size. This is separate from the additional HMO and selective licensing schemes.