Merton Council Is Moving To Data-Led Enforcement
Property Licensing Guide for Merton
Merton currently operates selective licensing in 4 wards and additional licensing in 7 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?
Merton is in the London registration window for the PRS database, which opens on 15 July 2027: see how the London registration window affects letting agents.
Merton Property Licensing Schemes
To check whether a Merton property is licensed, match its address against the ward lists below. We found no public register of licensed properties on Merton Council’s licensing pages on 20 October 2026. Kamma’s free checker compares an address with the selective, additional and mandatory HMO designations.
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 Merton property needs a licence? Kamma's free checker covers selective, additional and HMO schemes.
Check a Merton property →What are the licensing requirements for Merton?
Mandatory licensing in Merton
Mandatory HMO licensing applies across Merton (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 Merton?
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.
Merton operates additional HMO licensing. The current designation is set out below.
Do I need a selective licence in Merton?
Selective licensing requires almost all privately rented properties in a designated area to be licensed, regardless of the number of occupants.
Merton operates selective licensing. The current designation is set out below.
Additional licensing: 24 September 2023 to 23 September 2028, covering Colliers Wood, Cricket Green, Figge’s Marsh, Graveney, Lavender Fields, Longthornton and Pollards Hill.
Selective licensing: 24 September 2023 to 23 September 2028, covering Figge’s Marsh, Graveney, Longthornton and Pollards Hill.
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 Merton 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 | £747.60 (Part A £267, Part B £480.60). |
| Additional HMO licence fee | from £1,566 (2-bed) to £1,674 (4-bed). |
| Mandatory HMO licence fee | from £1,949.79 (2 units) rising to £2,464.43 (10 units). |
Fees updated 1 April 2026; accredited landlords may get £50 off.
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Merton Property Licensing FAQs
What licensing schemes does Merton operate?
Merton operates selective and additional licensing (24 September 2023 to 23 September 2028), alongside the national mandatory HMO scheme. See the scheme details above.
Do all properties in Merton need a licence?
No. In Merton, selective licensing covers privately rented homes let to a single household in Figge’s Marsh, Graveney, Longthornton and Pollards Hill. Additional HMO licensing covers houses with 3 or 4 people forming more than one household in those four wards plus Colliers Wood, Cricket Green and Lavender Fields. Mandatory HMO licensing covers houses with 5 or more people forming more than one household, borough-wide.
What if my property doesn't have a licence?
A Merton landlord who lets a property that needs a licence without one risks 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 commits the offence too and can be fined separately.
Can letting agents apply on behalf of landlords?
Yes. Letting agents can apply for property licences on behalf of landlords in Merton, and many manage the full process for selective, additional and mandatory HMO licences.
How do I apply for a Merton property licence?
Merton property licences are applied for through the licensing portal on Merton Council’s website (see the council licensing pages). Licences normally last 5 years. Kamma can also prepare and submit the application.
Why did Merton introduce selective licensing?
Merton Council designated selective licensing for Figge’s Marsh, Graveney, Longthornton and Pollards Hill, in force from 24 September 2023 to 23 September 2028. The scheme applies to privately rented homes let to a single household.
Why did Merton introduce additional licensing?
Merton Council designated additional HMO licensing for Colliers Wood, Cricket Green, Figge’s Marsh, Graveney, Lavender Fields, Longthornton and Pollards Hill, in force from 24 September 2023 to 23 September 2028. It covers houses with 3 or 4 people forming more than one household.
What are the conditions to obtain an HMO licence in Merton?
Merton’s licence conditions differ by scheme. The additional HMO conditions cover tenancy management, property management, fire safety, carbon monoxide alarms and notifying the council of occupancy changes (additional HMO licence). Mandatory HMO conditions are on the mandatory HMO page.
About Merton
Merton licenses privately rented homes in 7 of its 20 wards. Selective licensing applies in Figge’s Marsh, Graveney, Longthornton and Pollards Hill, and additional HMO licensing in those four plus Colliers Wood, Cricket Green and Lavender Fields. Both schemes run from 24 September 2023 to 23 September 2028.
Planning controls on small HMOs sit alongside licensing. Merton has had Article 4 Directions in the seven additional-licensing wards since 2022. A further direction from March 2026 covers 13 wards, and the council consulted on making it permanent from 8 May to 19 June 2026.
Licensing Enforcement in Merton
On 13 August 2024 Merton Council took over management of rented homes in the four selective licensing wards under an Interim Management Order, after a landlord persistently failed to license properties. 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:
