Enfield Council Is Moving To Data-Led Enforcement
Property Licensing Guide for Enfield
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.
Enfield Property Licensing Schemes
Got questions about licensing schemes in Enfield? We’re here to help. This free guide covers the key details of Enfield’s new 2026 selective licensing scheme, the borough-wide additional HMO scheme and mandatory HMO licensing, and how to apply.
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What are the licensing requirements for Enfield?
Mandatory licensing in Enfield
Mandatory HMO licensing is required in Enfield if your rented property is occupied by five or more people who form more than one household and share amenities such as a kitchen or bathroom, 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 HMO licence in Enfield?
Enfield operates a borough-wide additional HMO licensing scheme, which came into effect on 1 September 2025. It applies to privately rented HMOs occupied by three or four people from two or more households who share amenities — smaller HMOs not covered by mandatory licensing.
Do I need a selective licence in Enfield?
Selective licensing applies to privately rented homes occupied by one or two people, or a single family household, in designated wards. From 1 September 2026, Enfield’s new selective licensing scheme covers 17 wards across two designations, replacing the current 14-ward scheme that ends on 31 August 2026. The designated wards are listed below:
New selective licensing scheme (from 1 September 2026): Enfield’s Cabinet approved a new selective licensing designation on 22 April 2026. It comes into force on 1 September 2026 and runs until 31 August 2031 (up to 5 years). It covers 17 wards across two designations and applies to privately rented homes occupied by one or two people, or a single family household (HMOs are licensed separately under the mandatory and additional HMO schemes).
Designation One: Bowes, Brimsdown, Bullsmoor, Carterhatch, Edmonton Green, Enfield Lock, Haselbury, Jubilee, Lower Edmonton, Ponders End, Southbury, Upper Edmonton and Whitewebbs.
Designation Two: New Southgate, Palmers Green, Southgate and Town.
Current selective licensing scheme (until 31 August 2026): Enfield’s existing selective scheme began on 1 September 2021 and covers 14 wards. It ends on 31 August 2026, when the new scheme takes over.
How do I apply for a licence?
You can find full details of Enfield’s selective and HMO licensing schemes on Enfield Council’s private rented property licensing pages here. For enquiries, email the Private Rented Housing Team at PRSH@enfield.gov.uk or call 020 3821 1761. Or let Kamma’s expert team handle the application for you.
How much does a license cost?
Licence fees
- New selective licensing scheme (from 1 September 2026): £750 per property, with discounts for accredited landlords, multi-dwelling applications and properties with an EPC rating of C or above.
- Current selective licensing scheme (until 31 August 2026): £735 per property (£294 on application, £441 when the draft licence is issued).
Fees are set by Enfield Council and subject to change — confirm the latest fee on the council’s licensing fees page before applying.
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New 2026 scheme. 17 wards. One quick scan.
Enfield Property Licensing FAQs
Is Enfield Council introducing a new selective licensing scheme?
Yes. Enfield’s Cabinet approved a new selective licensing designation on 22 April 2026. It comes into force on 1 September 2026 and runs until 31 August 2031 (up to 5 years), covering 17 wards across two designations — an expansion of the current 14-ward scheme, which ends on 31 August 2026.
Which Enfield wards are covered by the new selective licensing scheme?
The new scheme covers 17 wards across two designations:
Designation One: Bowes, Brimsdown, Bullsmoor, Carterhatch, Edmonton Green, Enfield Lock, Haselbury, Jubilee, Lower Edmonton, Ponders End, Southbury, Upper Edmonton and Whitewebbs.
Designation Two: New Southgate, Palmers Green, Southgate and Town.
The designated boundaries follow the wards in place when the designation was made; check your exact address against the council’s licensing map.
Do all properties in Enfield need a licence?
Not all properties require a licence, but many do.
- Selective licence: privately rented homes occupied by one or two people, or a single family household, in the 17 selective wards (from 1 September 2026).
- Mandatory HMO licence: HMOs with five or more people from two or more households — borough-wide.
- Additional HMO licence: smaller HMOs of three or four people from two or more households — borough-wide since 1 September 2025.
What if my property doesn’t have a licence?
Operating a licensable property without a licence is a criminal offence. Enfield can pursue:
- Prosecution and an unlimited fine on conviction; or
- A civil penalty of up to £40,000 per offence (increased from £30,000 on 1 May 2026 under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025); and
- Rent Repayment Orders of up to 12 months’ rent, Housing Benefit or Universal Credit.
Letting agents can be held jointly liable for properties they manage, and relevant offences may be added to the Greater London Authority Landlord and Agent Register.
How do I apply for an Enfield property licence?
You can apply through Enfield Council’s private rented property licensing pages, or use a managed service to handle the process for you. For enquiries, contact the Private Rented Housing Team at PRSH@enfield.gov.uk or on 020 3821 1761. An application typically involves completing the online council application, providing property and tenancy details, uploading supporting documents (e.g. gas safety certificates, EPC) and paying the licence fee.
How much does a selective licence cost in Enfield?
The fee for the new selective licensing scheme is £750 per property, with discounts for accredited landlords, multi-dwelling applications and properties with an EPC rating of C or above. The current scheme fee (until 31 August 2026) is £735 per property. Fees are set by Enfield Council and subject to change — confirm the latest fee on the council’s licensing fees page before applying.
Why has Enfield introduced selective licensing?
Enfield’s licensing schemes are intended to improve property conditions and management standards across the private rented sector, and to help reduce deprivation and the anti-social behaviour sometimes associated with privately rented homes. The new selective scheme from 1 September 2026 extends this to 17 wards.
Why does Enfield have additional HMO licensing?
Enfield’s borough-wide additional HMO licensing scheme (in effect since 1 September 2025) extends regulation to smaller HMOs of three or four people from two or more households that are not covered by mandatory licensing, to improve the quality, safety and management of shared homes across the borough.
What are the conditions to obtain an HMO licence?
HMO licensing standards aim to ensure safe, well-managed accommodation. They typically cover minimum room sizes and amenity standards, fire safety (smoke alarms, fire doors and escape routes), gas and electrical safety, secure access, effective waste management and good repair. Landlords are also responsible for managing tenant behaviour. Non-compliance can lead to fines, penalties or revocation of the licence.
About Enfield
Enfield, an outer borough of London, England, sits on the northern edge of the city within historic Middlesex. Formed in 1965 from the former boroughs of Enfield, Edmonton, and Southgate, it includes diverse areas such as Enfield Chase, Palmers Green, and Bowes Park. Historically significant, Enfield and Edmonton were royal manors recorded in the Domesday Book (1086). Enfield town gained a market in the early 14th century, fostering growth due to its strategic location on the old north road and the River Lea. Residential expansion in Edmonton and Southgate accelerated in the 1870s with the advent of affordable suburban railways.
Licensing Enforcement in Enfield
Since Enfield’s additional scheme’s inception in 2020, Enfield’s Private Rented Housing team has issued over 300 statutory notices, including civil penalties and prosecutions. Specifically, there have been 69 civil penalties issued, with 50 finalized and 13 prosecutions carried out. These measures aim to enforce compliance, improve property conditions, and address antisocial behavior (ASB) related to Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). Enfield ranks 6th nationally in using civil penalties to tackle HMO issues, demonstrating its commitment to improving housing standards and ensuring landlord accountability
If you’re unsure as to the properties you manage may need a HMO licence in Enfield, feel free to use our Enfield property licence checker to receive a free licensing report.
