Hackney Council Is Moving To Data-Led Enforcement
Property Licensing Guide for Hackney
Hackney currently operates selective licensing in 17 wards and additional licensing in 21 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.
New to this? Read our overview: What is selective licensing?
Hackney Property Licensing Schemes
Letting a property in Hackney can need one of three licences. Selective licensing covers 17 wards. Additional HMO licensing covers the whole borough. Mandatory HMO licensing applies everywhere.
To check a property, use Kamma’s free checker below or call Hackney’s licensing team on 020 8356 4866. Agents managing a larger portfolio can see how Kamma helps letting agents.
What are the licensing requirements for Hackney?
Mandatory licensing in Hackney
Mandatory HMO licensing applies across Hackney (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 Hackney?
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.
Hackney operates additional HMO licensing. The current designation is set out below.
Do I need a selective licence in Hackney?
Selective licensing requires almost all privately rented properties in a designated area to be licensed, regardless of the number of occupants.
Hackney operates selective licensing. The current designation is set out below.
Additional licensing: 1 May 2026 to 30 April 2031, borough-wide (all 21 wards).
Selective licensing: 1 May 2026 to 30 April 2031, covering Brownswood, Cazenove, Clissold, Dalston, De Beauvoir, Hackney Central, Hackney Downs, Hackney Wick, Homerton, King’s Park, Lea Bridge, London Fields, Shacklewell, Springfield, Stamford Hill West, Stoke Newington and Victoria.
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 Hackney Council’s website here. Or let Kamma’s expert team process the application for you.
How much does a licence cost?
Licence fees: see Hackney Council’s property licensing pages for current selective, additional and mandatory HMO fees.
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Hackney Property Licensing FAQs
What licensing schemes does Hackney operate?
Hackney Council operates selective licensing in 17 wards and additional HMO licensing across all 21 wards, both from 1 May 2026 to 30 April 2031. Mandatory HMO licensing applies in Hackney as everywhere in England.
Do all properties in Hackney need a licence?
It depends on the property. In Hackney’s 17 selective wards, a home let to one household, one tenant or two sharers needs a selective licence. An HMO shared by 3 or 4 people from 2 or more households needs an additional licence, and one shared by 5 or more needs a mandatory licence.
What if my property doesn't have a licence?
In Hackney, letting a property that needs a licence without one can bring civil penalties of up to £40,000 per property. 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 Hackney property licences on behalf of landlords through the council’s online portal, and many manage the full process.
How do I apply for a Hackney property licence?
You can apply through Hackney Council’s licensing pages, which link to the online portal. The fee is £925 for a selective licence and £1,400 for an HMO licence, paid in two parts. You can also use a managed service such as Kamma.
How long does an application take?
Hackney Council began processing selective and additional HMO applications on 1 May 2026. Processing time varies with the council’s workload and the quality of the application. A complete, correctly prepared application is processed fastest.
Why did Hackney introduce selective licensing?
Hackney Council introduced selective licensing in 17 wards from 1 May 2026. Its evidence found that a significant proportion of privately rented homes may contain serious hazards, almost double the national average.
Why did Hackney introduce additional licensing?
Hackney Council introduced additional HMO licensing across the borough from 1 May 2026 for HMOs shared by 3 or 4 people. Its evidence predicted serious hazards in 30% of HMOs, three times the national average.
What are the conditions to obtain an HMO licence in Hackney?
Hackney Council publishes separate conditions for additional and mandatory HMO licences and for selective licences (licence conditions).
About Hackney
Hackney Council’s Cabinet approved the two schemes on 24 November 2025, after a public consultation that ran from 12 June to 21 September 2025. Both came into force on 1 May 2026. The council says its evidence found serious hazards in a significant proportion of private rented homes, and in 30% of HMOs.
Licensing Enforcement in Hackney
Hackney Council says it will use every tool it has to enforce against landlords who break the new rules. 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:
