Hackney Council's selective licensing scheme and additional HMO licensing scheme are both active from May 2026. Landlords with properties in Hackney may be subject to both schemes simultaneously and must hold separate licences for each.
Hackney: two licensing schemes, one property
Landlords with rental properties in the London Borough of Hackney face a dual licensing requirement from May 2026. Both Hackney's selective licensing scheme and its additional HMO licensing scheme are active, meaning some properties are subject to both simultaneously.
Selective licensing — Hackney
Hackney's selective licensing scheme covers the majority of privately rented properties in the borough. Properties subject to selective licensing must hold a valid selective licence regardless of whether they are also subject to HMO licensing.
Applies to: Most privately rented properties with one or two households Licence fee: £1,000 per property (5-year licence) Key conditions: Annual gas safety certificate, EICR, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, tenancy agreement provided to tenants, tenant reference checks documented
Additional HMO licensing — Hackney
Hackney operates an additional HMO licensing scheme covering houses in multiple occupation that do not meet the mandatory HMO licensing threshold (mandatory licensing applies to HMOs with 5 or more occupants forming 2 or more households).
Applies to: Properties let to 3 or 4 unrelated occupants forming 2 or more households Licence fee: £1,500 per property (5-year licence) Key conditions: All selective licensing conditions plus room size requirements, fire safety measures, and waste management
Dual obligation — what it means in practice
A property let to 3 unrelated tenants in Hackney will require:
- A selective licence (£1,000)
- An additional HMO licence (£1,500)
Both licences must be held simultaneously. The conditions of each licence must be met independently. Failure to hold either licence where required is a criminal offence.
Enforcement
Hackney Council's Private Sector Housing team actively enforces licensing requirements. Civil penalties of up to £40,000 per offence apply under the Renters' Rights Act 2025. Rent repayment orders covering up to 24 months of rent can be applied for by tenants of unlicensed properties.
Action required
- Check whether your Hackney property is subject to selective licensing, additional HMO licensing, or both
- Apply for the correct licence(s) at hackney.gov.uk/private-rented-sector
- Ensure licence conditions are being met and retain evidence
Landlord Insights — landlordinsights.co.uk — Sourced from hackney.gov.uk. Not legal advice.
This content is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. Always verify information against the original source and seek independent professional guidance before acting on any regulatory matter.