Lewisham Council Is Moving To Data-Led Enforcement
Property Licensing Guide for Lewisham
Lewisham currently operates selective licensing in 18 wards and additional licensing; 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?
Lewisham 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.
Lewisham Property Licensing Schemes
To check one property, search its address on Lewisham Council’s interactive map using the Selective Licensable Area layer, or use Kamma’s free checker below. The council says Telegraph Hill and parts of Blackheath are outside the selective scheme.
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 Lewisham property needs a licence? Kamma's free checker covers selective, additional and HMO schemes.
Check a Lewisham property →What are the licensing requirements for Lewisham?
Mandatory licensing in Lewisham
Mandatory HMO licensing applies across Lewisham (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 Lewisham?
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.
Lewisham operates additional HMO licensing. The current designation is set out below.
Do I need a selective licence in Lewisham?
Selective licensing requires almost all privately rented properties in a designated area to be licensed, regardless of the number of occupants.
Lewisham operates selective licensing. The current designation is set out below.
Additional licensing: 5 April 2022 to 4 April 2027, borough-wide (all 19 wards).
Selective licensing: 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2029, covering Bellingham, Blackheath, Brockley, Catford South, Crofton Park, Deptford, Downham, Evelyn, Forest Hill, Grove Park, Hither Green, Ladywell, Lee Green, Lewisham Central, New Cross Gate, Perry Vale, Rushey Green and Sydenham.
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 Lewisham Council’s website here. Or let Kamma’s expert team process the application for you.
How much does a licence cost?
Licence fees
| Licence | Fee |
|---|---|
| Selective licence | £640 per property |
Fees as read from the council’s own published schedule on 20 July 2026, not independently re-checked since; subject to change. See the council’s fee page for full schedules, payment stages and discounts.
We Handle Your Lewisham 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.
3 licensing schemes. Know exactly what you need.
Lewisham Property Licensing FAQs
What licensing schemes does Lewisham operate?
Lewisham Council operates selective licensing from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2029 in 18 wards. It also operates additional HMO licensing borough-wide from 5 April 2022 to 4 April 2027, alongside the national mandatory HMO scheme.
Do all properties in Lewisham need a licence?
Not every Lewisham property needs a licence, but most privately rented homes in the 18 selective wards do. Outside those wards, HMOs need a mandatory licence (five or more people) or an additional licence (three or four people from different households).
What if my property doesn't have a licence?
In Lewisham, letting a property that needs a licence without one can bring a civil penalty 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 can be fined separately.
Can letting agents apply on behalf of landlords?
Yes. Letting agents can apply for Lewisham selective and HMO licences on behalf of landlords, and many manage the full process.
How do I apply for a Lewisham property licence?
Lewisham Council takes selective licence applications through its online portal. Start from the council’s selective licensing page, or use a managed service such as Kamma.
Why did Lewisham introduce selective licensing?
Lewisham Council introduced selective licensing from 1 July 2024, after the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities approved it in December 2023 following a public consultation. The council says it covers around 20,000 properties.
Why did Lewisham introduce additional licensing?
Lewisham additional licensing began on 5 April 2022. It covers smaller HMOs that the national mandatory scheme misses, and it runs until 4 April 2027.
What are the conditions to obtain an HMO licence in Lewisham?
Lewisham Council sets HMO licence conditions for fire safety, amenities, room sizes and management (licence conditions). The standard HMO fee is £250 on application plus £250 for administration and enforcement, per lettable unit.
About Lewisham
Lewisham is an inner borough of London, England, historically part of Kent, with a small area in the northwest historically belonging to Surrey. Established in 1965 by amalgamating the metropolitan boroughs of Lewisham and Deptford, it borders Southwark, Greenwich, and Bromley, and has a section of River Thames riverfront at Deptford.
Lewisham encompasses historic villages and areas such as Deptford, New Cross, Blackheath, Brockley, Lewisham, Lee, Ladywell, Rushey Green, Forest Hill, Hither Green, Catford, Grove Park, Upper Sydenham, Bellingham, Southend, and Sydenham.
Public spaces in Lewisham feature the grounds of the Horniman Museum, Beckenham Place Park, Black Heath, Ladywell Fields, and Deptford Park. The borough hosts light industries and electrical engineering firms, particularly along the River Ravensbourne. Selective licensing covers 18 of Lewisham’s 19 wards. The council says Telegraph Hill and parts of Blackheath fall outside it.
Licensing Enforcement in Lewisham
Lewisham Council enforces property licensing across its schemes. 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:
