Bexley Council Is Moving To Data-Led Enforcement
Property Licensing Guide for Bexley
Bexley currently operates selective licensing in 1 ward; mandatory HMO licensing applies everywhere. Last checked: 20 October 2026.
This free guide will provide you with the key details regarding what licensing requirements are necessary in this area and how to apply for a licence.
New to this? Read our overview: What is selective licensing?
Bexley is in the London registration window for the PRS database, which opens on 15 July 2027: see when landlords in London have to register on the PRS database.
Bexley Property Licensing Schemes
Bexley Council keeps public registers of licensed HMOs, selective licences and temporary exemption notices. Check them to see whether a property is already licensed. The council’s Rent it Right team handles applications at rentitright@bexley.gov.uk.
Is manual compliance causing a headache for your agency? At Kamma, we specialise in automating licensing compliance for agents across the UK. If you need any assistance in getting your property portfolio compliant, find out how we can help letting agents here.
Not sure whether a Bexley property needs a licence? Kamma's free checker covers selective, additional and HMO schemes.
Check a Bexley property →What are the licensing requirements for Bexley?
Mandatory licensing in Bexley
Mandatory HMO licensing applies across Bexley (and all of England) to larger HMOs. These are properties occupied by five or more people forming more than one household, including:
- Shared houses and flats occupied by students and young professionals.
- Properties converted into bedsits with some shared facilities.
- Properties converted into a mix of self-contained and non-self-contained accommodation.
Do I need an additional property licence in Bexley?
Additional licensing requires smaller HMOs in a designated area to be licensed. That means a privately rented property with three or more people forming more than one household.
Bexley does not currently operate an additional HMO licensing scheme; larger HMOs are covered by the national mandatory HMO scheme.
Do I need a selective licence in Bexley?
Selective licensing requires almost all privately rented properties in a designated area to be licensed, regardless of the number of occupants.
Bexley operates selective licensing. The current designation is set out below.
Selective licensing: 13 January 2025 to 12 January 2030, covering Belvedere.
Mandatory HMO licensing: in force since 2006 for HMOs of five or more people forming more than one household.
How do I apply for a licence?
You can apply for a licence via Bexley Council’s website here. Or let Kamma’s expert team process the application for you.
How much does a licence cost?
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Selective licence fee | £830 (£350 plus £480). |
| Mandatory HMO licence fee | £350 plus £330 per letting; renewals £350 plus £205 per letting. |
Accredited landlords/agents get a £50 discount.
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Bexley Property Licensing FAQs
What licensing schemes does Bexley operate?
Bexley operates selective licensing (13 January 2025 to 12 January 2030), alongside the national mandatory HMO scheme. See the scheme details above.
Do all properties in Bexley need a licence?
No. In Bexley, a licence for an ordinary private let is needed only in Belvedere ward, under selective licensing in force from 13 January 2025 to 12 January 2030. Elsewhere in Bexley, only HMOs of five or more people from more than one household need a mandatory licence. Bexley has no additional licensing scheme.
What if my property doesn't have a licence?
Letting a Bexley property that needs a licence without one can bring civil penalties of up to £40,000 per property for offences on or after 1 May 2026. The landlord also risks a rent repayment order of up to 24 months’ rent. A letting agent who manages the property or collects the rent commits the offence too and can be fined separately.
Can letting agents apply on behalf of landlords?
Yes. Letting agents can apply for HMO and selective licences on behalf of landlords in Bexley, and many manage the full process. Applicants who are accredited when they apply get a £50 discount.
How do I apply for a Bexley property licence?
You can apply for a Bexley selective or HMO licence through Bexley Council’s website (licensing pages), or use a managed service such as Kamma.
Why did Bexley introduce selective licensing?
Bexley Council describes its Belvedere selective licensing scheme, in force since 13 January 2025, as designed to improve tenant safety and housing conditions and to ensure landlord professionalism. The designation also addresses anti-social behaviour and poor property conditions.
Where is the Bexley HMO licence register?
Bexley Council publishes its public register of licensed HMOs and selective licences on the property licensing pages. The register also lists temporary exemption notices. It is a downloadable file, so search it for the address you need.
What are the conditions to obtain an HMO licence in Bexley?
Bexley Council sets licence conditions and standards for licensed homes, including its Rent it Right standards. Read the licence conditions and the licensing standards. Holders must also gain accreditation within 12 months.
About Bexley
Bexley has one selective licensing designation, covering Belvedere ward from 13 January 2025 to 12 January 2030. Applications opened on 5 November 2024. An earlier selective scheme, designated in 2018 for five wards, expired on 31 August 2023. Mandatory HMO licensing applies in all 17 Bexley wards. The council states that its selective scheme is meant to improve tenant safety and housing conditions and to tackle anti-social behaviour.
Licensing Enforcement in Bexley
Bexley Council has said it received nearly 1,000 selective licence applications in Belvedere, inspected almost 100 licensed properties and visited about 150 others to find unlicensed homes. Letting a property without the required licence risks prosecution and civil penalties of up to £40,000 per property. The landlord can also face a rent repayment order of up to 24 months’ rent. Where a letting agent manages the property or collects the rent, the agent commits the offence too and can be fined in its own right.
Neighbouring borough guides
Licensing schemes stop at the borough boundary. A property one street over can need a different licence. Guides for the neighbouring boroughs:
