HMO licensing in Lambeth

Which licences a rented house needs in Lambeth, and where. England. Checked 7 September 2026.

Lambeth runs additional licensing and selective licensing on top of mandatory licensing.

Mandatory HMO licence: 5 or more people forming 2 or more households sharing facilities.

Additional licensing

Extends HMO licensing to smaller HMOs (typically 3 or 4 people) in a designated area.

StatusIn forceWherewhole boroughDesignated8 September 2021

Decision to introduce borough-wide additional HMO licensing made 2021-09-08; scheme came into force 2021-12-09; council page gives no end date (public notice PDF reportedly gives 2026-12-08, not verified by fetch)

Selective licensing

Every privately rented home in a designated area needs a licence, HMO or not.

StatusIn forceWherenamed wards: all wards except Vauxhall and Waterloo & South Bank (phase 1: Knights Hill, Streatham Common and Vale, Streatham Hill East, Streatham St Leonard's; phase 2: 19 further wards)

Phase 1 in force 2024-09-02, phase 2 in force 2025-09-01; page gives no designation or end date

Council HMO page · HMO Article 4 in Lambeth

Check an exact postcode for Article 4

Is a postcode inside an HMO Article 4 area?

See this on every listing.Kerbio puts the Article 4 answer, licensing, the council's HMO register and sold prices on the Rightmove, Zoopla or OnTheMarket page itself. Free for 7 days, then £39 a month.

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Sources: Lambeth council, gov.uk HMO licensing. Schemes change; confirm with the council before you offer.