Tower Hamlets Landlord Licence: Do You Need One?

Do you need a Tower Hamlets landlord licence for your rental property?

You’ll certainly need one if you rent a property to three or more separate households – such as shared houses for young professionals. When it comes to smaller lets, property licensing schemes depend on your location within the borough, and the rules were significantly tightened in 2026.

If you do need one, apply without delay as landlord licensing is treated seriously in the borough. A 2024 report found that Tower Hamlets had handed out over £1.2 million in fines and rent repayment orders over unlicensed properties – and fees and penalties have risen sharply since.

Read our guide as we explain how to get a private landlord licence in Tower Hamlets, including the latest 2026 costs.

What is a landlord licence?

Landlord licence schemes ensure that no tenants suffer poor living conditions in privately rented properties. They are also used in areas with more migration, low demand for housing, or higher reports of anti-social behaviour. But the property licence rules can vary between local authorities.

Do I Need a Landlord Licence in Tower Hamlets?

Our introductory guide outlines the Tower Hamlets landlord licence rules for the three types of licence available, including two HMO licensing schemes. However, please check the council website for the full facts – as costs and processes change frequently.

Here’s a quick at-a-glance comparison of all three:

Licence type	Who needs it	Online fee (from April 2026)	Licence length
Mandatory HMO	5+ people, multiple households	£977 + £68.50/room	3 years
Additional HMO	3–4 people, 2+ households	£1,323 (no extra room charge)	5 years
Selective	1–2 people in designated wards	£897 (new) / £747 (renewal)	5 years

1. Mandatory HMO licences

Private landlords across Tower Hamlets need a landlord licence to rent out a large house in multiple occupation (HMO). These are properties where 5 or more people from multiple households as defined by the Housing Act 2004 share communal rooms, such as student flats, bedsits or shared houses. The full mandatory HMO licensing requirements, minimum kitchen and bathroom facilities, safety regulations and more are found here.

Following the council’s fee review, a mandatory HMO licence in Tower Hamlets now costs £977 for an online application, or £1,147 by post, if you pay upfront. There is also a £68.50 charge for each habitable room.

2. Additional HMO licences

You need an additional HMO licence to rent a property to 3 or 4 people from 2 or more households sharing kitchen or bathroom facilities, across Tower Hamlets. Find the full additional HMO licensing requirements including minimum room sizes and fire and smoke alarms rules here.

This scheme saw the steepest fee rise of the three: the cost of a Tower Hamlets additional HMO licence is now £1,323 for an online application, or £1,550.50 by post, up significantly from previous rates.

3. Selective Landlord Licensing in Tower Hamlets

The Tower Hamlets selective licensing scheme applies to private rentals for one household, or two separate individuals, in Weavers, Whitechapel or Spitalfields & Banglatown. Check the map on the Tower Hamlets gov.uk page if you’re unsure. Full selective landlord licence requirements including living space dimensions and documentation are here. The selective licence fee is now £897 for a new online application and £747 for renewal online.

Worth noting: this scheme is currently due to expire on 30 September 2026, and at the time of writing the council hasn’t confirmed whether it will be renewed. If your property falls in one of these wards, it’s worth keeping an eye on council announcements as that date approaches.

How to Apply for a Landlord Licence in Tower Hamlets

You can get your landlord licence by applying to Tower Hamlets online, or you can make your HMO landlords licence application by post, at a slightly higher cost.

Note that you could now be charged between £112.50 and £157.50 for any missing documents, depending on the scheme. But if you have landlord accreditation such as membership of the London landlord accreditation scheme, you may qualify for a landlord licence fee discount. If you have multiple properties, you can make a bulk payment.

Expect to show that your energy performance certificate (EPC), fire safety measures and safety inspections are up to date, and that the accommodation will provide enough heat, light, and won’t be overcrowded.

You may need to supply:

• Gas safety certificate
• Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)
• Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) certificate
• Fire alarm system inspection and servicing report
• Assured Shorthold Tenancy agreements (AST)
• Floor plans and room measurements

Only a ‘fit and proper person’ can hold a landlord licence. You should supply the name, address, email and phone number of these parties:

• Licence holder, either as an individual or registered company
• Freeholder and leaseholder, if it’s a leasehold property
• Mortgage provider
• Property managers
• Rent collector
• Repairs manager

Can I Appeal If My Application Is Rejected?

Landlords can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal if your application for a licence is rejected. Take note, applying for a temporary exemption notice (TEN) can provide coverage during your application process.

How Long Do Landlord Licences Last?

Selective landlord licences and additional HMO licences in Tower Hamlets are valid for 5 years, and mandatory HMO licences for 3 years. The council can reduce this to 1 or 2 years if you don’t comply with the licence conditions.

How Much Is a Landlord Licence – and What’s the Cost of Not Having One?

Beyond the application fees above, the real cost of getting this wrong is in the penalties. If you don’t have the correct Tower Hamlets landlord licence for your property, you could now receive a financial penalty of up to £40,000, a rent repayment order (RRO), or an unlimited fine and a criminal conviction. This is a substantial increase on the previous £30,000 maximum, reflecting the council’s harder line on enforcement.

Do Private Landlords Need a Licence in Tower Hamlets?

In short, yes. These schemes exist specifically for privately rented homes, as opposed to council or social housing. Whether you personally need a licence depends on your property type and its location within the borough:

• If you let to 5 or more people from multiple households, you need a mandatory HMO licence regardless of where in the borough you are.
• If you let to 3–4 people from 2 or more households, you need an additional HMO licence, again borough-wide.
• If you let to just one household, or two individuals, in Weavers, Whitechapel, Spitalfields or Banglatown, you need a selective licence.

If none of these apply – for example, a single family renting a self-contained flat outside the selective licensing wards – you won’t currently need a licence, though it’s worth double-checking your specific address against the council’s online checker, since boundaries can be precise.

How a Letting Agent Can Help With Landlord Licensing

Keeping track of which scheme applies, renewal dates, and the certificates each one requires can be a lot to manage alongside everything else involved in being a landlord, particularly if licensing fees and penalties keep changing. As part of our guaranteed rent and lettings management service, we help landlords stay on top of compliance requirements like these, so nothing slips through the cracks.

Understand Tower Hamlets Landlord Licensing?

Has our guide answered your questions about the Tower Hamlets landlord licence? With fees having risen sharply in 2026 and the selective licensing scheme due to expire later this year, it’s more important than ever to stay informed. Contact Wextons today to discuss this, and any uncertainties you have as a landlord in the property market – from rent increases to Awaab’s Law – in Whitechapel, Wapping, Bethnal Green, London Docklands, Canary Wharf and beyond, with guaranteed rent and full lettings management.

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