Camden Council Is Moving To Data-Led Enforcement
Property Licensing Guide for Camden
Camden currently operates additional licensing in 20 wards; 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.
Camden is in the London registration window for the PRS database, which opens on 15 July 2027: see what the PRS database means for landlords and agents in London.
Camden Property Licensing Schemes
To check a Camden property, count the occupants. Three or more people forming two or more households need an additional licence. Five or more need a mandatory licence. The additional scheme covers every ward, so location does not change the answer.
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 Camden property needs a licence? Kamma's free checker covers selective, additional and HMO schemes.
Check a Camden property →What are the licensing requirements for Camden?
Mandatory licensing in Camden
Mandatory HMO licensing applies across Camden (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 Camden?
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.
Camden operates additional HMO licensing. The current designation is set out below.
Do I need a selective licence in Camden?
Selective licensing requires almost all privately rented properties in a designated area to be licensed, regardless of the number of occupants.
Camden does not currently operate a selective licensing scheme.
Additional licensing: 8 December 2025 to 7 December 2030, borough-wide (all 20 wards).
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 Camden Council’s website here. Or let Kamma’s expert team process the application for you.
How much does a licence cost?
Licence fees: see Camden Council’s private-sector housing pages for current HMO and additional licence fees.
We Handle Your Camden Applications End-to-End
TRUSTED BY LEADING AGENTS & LANDLORDS ACROSS THE UK
Managing Across Multiple Boroughs?
Reduce risk by swapping manual tracking for our licensing compliance platform Kamma Suite.
1 licensing scheme. Know exactly what you need.
Camden Property Licensing FAQs
What licensing schemes does Camden operate?
Camden Council operates two licensing schemes. Additional HMO licensing runs from 8 December 2025 to 7 December 2030 across the whole borough (20 wards) for HMOs of three or more people. Mandatory HMO licensing applies in Camden and the rest of England to HMOs of five or more people. Camden has no selective licensing scheme.
Do all properties in Camden need a licence?
No. Camden Council licenses HMOs only. A property let to three or more people forming two or more households needs an additional licence in Camden from 8 December 2025. A property with five or more people needs a mandatory licence. Camden has no selective scheme, so a single-household let is outside both.
What if my property doesn't have a licence?
A Camden property that needs a licence and has none can bring civil penalties of up to £40,000 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 Camden HMO licences on behalf of landlords, and many manage the full process for them.
How do I apply for a Camden property licence?
You can apply through Camden Council’s website (licensing pages), or use a managed service such as Kamma.
Does Camden have selective licensing?
No. Camden Council does not operate selective licensing. Its only local designation is additional HMO licensing, in force across the whole borough from 8 December 2025 to 7 December 2030. Mandatory HMO licensing applies nationally on top.
Why did Camden introduce additional licensing?
Camden Council renewed additional HMO licensing for five years from 8 December 2025. The council says it wants safer, better-managed shared housing. Its review found 94% of licensed HMOs needed work to meet standards.
What are the conditions to obtain an HMO licence in Camden?
Camden Council’s HMO licence conditions set standards for fire safety, amenities, room sizes and management (Camden HMO licensing page).
About Camden
Camden is an inner London borough, created in 1965 from Hampstead, Holborn and St Pancras. It includes Highgate, Hampstead, West Hampstead, Kentish Town, Camden Town, Kilburn, Somers Town, St Pancras, Bloomsbury and Holborn.
Additional HMO licensing covers the whole borough, so a shared house in any of its 20 wards needs a licence once three or more people form two or more households. Camden Council renewed the scheme for five years from 8 December 2025. Its review found 94% of licensed HMOs needed work to meet standards.
Licensing Enforcement in Camden
Camden Council reports more than 200 civil penalty notices and over £300,000 in court fines for HMO licensing offences since its additional scheme began in 2015. 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:
