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Lambeth Landlord Licensing

Lambeth operates ONE unified Selective Licensing Scheme delivered in two phases — covering 23 wards in total. From 1 April 2026, the selective fee is £1,025 per property (Part A £717.50 + Part B £307.50), with a £50 discount on Part B for EPC band C or higher. HMO licensing is a separate regime priced at £520 per bedroom.

New £1,025 Fee From 1 April 2026 — Are You Licensed?

Lambeth’s Selective Licensing Scheme has been in force since Phase 1 went live 2 September 2024. Phase 2 followed on 1 September 2025, taking total coverage to 23 wards. From 1 April 2026 the fee is £1,025 per property. Operating unlicensed risks civil penalties up to £40,000 (effective 1 May 2026) — and since 1 May 2026 superior landlords are personally liable too.

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Selective Licensing — One Scheme, Two Phases

Lambeth has a single unified Selective Licensing Scheme. It was designated once and rolled out in two geographic phases. The 1 April 2026 date is a fee update only — not a new scheme.

Live — 2 Sept 2024

Phase 1

Covers 4 wards in the Streatham area. All privately rented properties in these wards need a selective licence.

Per property (from 1 Apr 2026)£1,025

Part A £717.50 + Part B £307.50

Live — 1 Sept 2025

Phase 2

Adds 19 wards across Brixton, Clapham, Kennington, Oval, Stockwell and surrounding areas. Same fee and conditions as Phase 1.

Per property (from 1 Apr 2026)£1,025

Part A £717.50 + Part B £307.50

EPC band C+ discount: £50 off Part B

Properties with an EPC rating of C or better get a £50 reduction on Part B of the selective fee — a small but real reward for energy-efficient stock.

Excluded from selective licensing

Two areas are explicitly outside the selective scheme:

VauxhallWaterloo / South Bank

HMO Licensing — Separate Regime

HMO licensing operates separately from selective licensing. Both mandatory (5+ occupants, national requirement) and additional HMO (3–4 occupants, borough-wide) use Lambeth’s per-bedroom pricing model at £520 per room.

Borough-wide

Additional HMO Licensing

Applies to HMOs with 3 or 4 unrelated occupants across all of Lambeth.

Per bedroom£520

3-bed = £1,560 · 4-bed = £2,080

National

Mandatory HMO Licensing

Required nationally for HMOs with 5 or more occupants from 2 or more households. Also uses Lambeth’s per-bedroom pricing.

Per bedroom£520

5-bed = £2,600 · 6-bed = £3,120

HMO Licence Cost Examples

All HMO licence fees are calculated at £520 per bedroom.

3-bedroom HMO

£1,560

4-bedroom HMO

£2,080

5-bedroom HMO

£2,600

6-bedroom HMO

£3,120

Selective Licensing Ward Coverage

Phase 1 — Since 2 September 2024

4 wards in the Streatham area

Knight's HillStreatham Common & ValeStreatham Hill EastStreatham St. Leonard's

Phase 2 — Since 1 September 2025

19 additional wards across the borough

Brixton Acre LaneBrixton NorthBrixton Rush CommonBrixton WindrushClapham Common & AbbevilleClapham EastClapham ParkClapham TownFerndaleKenningtonLarkhallMyatt's FieldsOvalSt Martin'sStockwellStreatham Hill West & ThorntonStreatham WellsTulse HillVassall

Key Dates

📅2 September 2024 — Selective scheme Phase 1 effective
📅1 September 2025 — Selective scheme Phase 2 effective
📅1 April 2026 — Fee update to £1,025 per property
📅1 May 2026 — Civil penalty cap rises to £40,000; superior-landlord liability

Required Compliance Documents

Gas Safety Certificate (CP12)

Annual renewal required

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EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report)

Every 5 years minimum

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Fire Risk Assessment
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Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

Min E rating; C+ unlocks £50 fee discount

Floor plans with room measurements
Building insurance certificate
Proof of ownership
Landlord identity verification

Penalties

Civil penalty

Up to £40,000

Effective 1 May 2026, per offence

Prosecution

Unlimited fine

Criminal record

Rent Repayment Order

Up to 24 months

Tenants can reclaim rent

Section 21 blocked

No evictions

Cannot evict while unlicensed

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Lambeth selective licence cost?
From 1 April 2026, a Lambeth selective licence costs £1,025 per property. The fee is split into two parts: Part A (£717.50) is payable on application and Part B (£307.50) is payable when the licence is granted. Landlords with an EPC of band C or higher receive a £50 discount on Part B.
Is Lambeth's selective licensing one scheme or several?
Lambeth operates ONE unified Selective Licensing Scheme delivered in two phases. Phase 1 (effective 2 September 2024) designated 4 wards. Phase 2 (effective 1 September 2025) added 19 further wards. The 1 April 2026 date is a fee update only — it is not a new designation.
Which wards are covered by Phase 1?
Phase 1 (live since 2 September 2024) covers 4 wards: Knight's Hill, Streatham Common & Vale, Streatham Hill East, and Streatham St. Leonard's.
Which wards are covered by Phase 2?
Phase 2 (live since 1 September 2025) covers 19 additional wards including Brixton, Clapham, Kennington, Oval, Stockwell, Streatham Hill West & Thornton, Streatham Wells, Vassall, Ferndale, Tulse Hill, Larkhall and others. Vauxhall and Waterloo / South Bank are excluded from selective licensing.
How does Lambeth's per-bedroom HMO pricing work?
Lambeth charges £520 per bedroom for both mandatory and additional HMO licensing — a separate regime from selective licensing. A 3-bed HMO costs £1,560, a 4-bed costs £2,080, and a 5-bed costs £2,600. If your HMO also sits in a selective-licensing ward, you do not pay a selective licence on top — HMO and selective licensing are mutually exclusive for the same property.
Is there an EPC discount on the selective fee?
Yes. Properties with an EPC rating of C or above receive a £50 discount on Part B of the selective licence fee.
What happens if I don't get a licence in Lambeth?
Operating without a required licence can result in a civil penalty of up to £40,000 per offence (effective 1 May 2026), criminal prosecution with unlimited fines, Rent Repayment Orders for up to 24 months of rent, and you cannot serve a valid Section 21 eviction notice while unlicensed. Since 1 May 2026, superior landlords (freeholders, head lessees, rent-to-rent operators) are also personally liable.
What compliance documents do I need?
You need: a valid gas safety certificate (CP12), an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR), a fire risk assessment, an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC, minimum E rating), floor plans with room measurements, building insurance, proof of ownership, and landlord identity verification.
Is Lambeth's selective licensing borough-wide?
No. It covers 23 wards across two phases. Vauxhall and the Waterloo / South Bank area are excluded. If you let a property in Lambeth, check the lambeth.gov.uk selective-licensing page for your ward.

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More About Lambeth

Lambeth Providers →Compliance Guide →EICR in Lambeth →Superior Landlord Risk →

Lambeth Property Licensing Team

Email: propertylicensing@lambeth.gov.uk

Phone: 020 7926 1000

Primary source: lambeth.gov.uk selective licensing →