Landlord licence Camden: HMO licensing explained

Landlord licence Camden at a glance

Sources: Camden Council pages listed under Sources, checked 21 October 2026.

How big is the private rented sector in Camden?

At the 2021 Census, 33,012 of Camden's 92,758 households rented privately. That's 35.6% of households, well above the 20.3% average across England and Wales. By number of privately renting households, Camden ranked 33 of the 331 local authorities in England and Wales; by share it ranked 10. For comparison, 27,507 households (29.7%) owned their home and 31,250 (33.7%) rented socially.

Is there selective licensing in Camden?

No. Camden licenses HMOs only. A home let to one household, or to 2 sharers, doesn't need a property licence.

Camden additional HMO licensing

Camden's third boroughwide additional scheme came into force on 8 December 2025, replacing the scheme that ran from December 2020. It applies to any property occupied by 3 or more people forming 2 or more households that isn't covered by mandatory licensing. It also covers buildings converted into self-contained flats that don't meet the 1991 Building Regulations (or later) where less than half of the flats are owner-occupied. The tenancy agreement and the number of storeys aren't relevant to whether a property is an HMO.

In Camden, flats in purpose-built blocks of 3 or more flats are exempt from mandatory licensing but must still be licensed under the additional scheme. Applications for empty properties may be returned, because a property can't be an HMO until it's occupied, so apply as soon as it's let.

Renewing a Camden HMO licence

You can renew if you hold an unexpired licence, the proposed licence holder hasn't changed, and there are no significant changes to the property. The HMO portal opens 30 days before your licence expires, and the council aims to send a reminder about 2 months before. Apply after expiry and you'll need a new licence at the higher cost. You'll need current gas, electrical and fire safety certificates and evidence that works required by the previous licence were completed. Licences normally last 5 years, but some are issued for 1 year.

Camden landlord licence fees

From 15 January 2026, a new or renewal application for a section 254 HMO or section 257 converted building costs £1,570: £1,318 Part 1 and £252 Part 2. Purpose-built student accommodation is £1,383. Accredited private landlords can get £100 off Part 2. The full schedule of fees, refunds and discounts is in the council's 2026/27 HMO fees document. Temporary exemption notices are free.

Councils usually split a licence fee into two parts: one paid when you apply, covering processing, and one paid before the licence is granted, covering running and enforcing the scheme. Where the council publishes the split, we show it above. Fees are reviewed regularly, so treat these as correct on the date we checked and confirm on the council's fee page before you pay.

Do I need a landlord licence in Camden? A quick check

1. Count the people and households living in the property.
2. If 5 or more people from 2 or more households share, you need a mandatory HMO licence (or an additional one if the flat is in a purpose-built block of 3+ flats).
3. If 3 or 4 people from 2 or more households share, you need an additional HMO licence anywhere in Camden.
4. If it's a converted block that doesn't meet building regulations and less than half the flats are owner-occupied, it may need a licence as a section 257 HMO.
5. If it's a single-household let, no property licence is needed.

People also ask about landlord licensing in Camden

Do I need a landlord licence in Camden? Yes if 3 or more people from 2 or more households share. Camden has no selective licensing for single-household lets.

How much is an HMO licence in Camden? £1,570 (£1,318 plus £252) from 15 January 2026, with £100 off for accredited landlords.

When did Camden's new additional licensing start? 8 December 2025. It runs for 5 years.

What every Camden landlord must do, licence or not

Licensing sits on top of the duties every landlord in England already has. Whether or not your Camden property needs a licence, you still need to:

• have every gas appliance, flue and pipework checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer every 12 months, and give tenants a copy of the record;
• have the electrical installation inspected and tested at least every 5 years, and give tenants the report;
• hold a valid EPC rated E or above before you let, unless the property is exempt;
• protect any deposit in a government-approved scheme within 30 days and give the prescribed information;
• fit a smoke alarm on every storey used as living accommodation, and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a fixed combustion appliance (gas cookers excepted);
• carry out Right to Rent checks before a tenancy starts.

A council considering a licence application, or inspecting a licensed property, will usually ask to see evidence of the first four.

What happens if you let without the right licence in Camden?

Letting a property that needs a licence without one is a criminal offence. Since 1 May 2026, councils can issue civil penalties of up to £40,000 per offence as an alternative to prosecution, and tenants can apply for a rent repayment order covering up to 24 months' rent; several councils, including Camden, Westminster and Islington, now state these limits on their own pages. Prosecution can lead to an unlimited fine. The practical point: once a valid application is in, you're treated as having applied, so apply as soon as you know a licence is needed.

Keeping to your licence conditions

A licence normally lasts up to 5 years, and councils attach conditions to it: typically that you send an updated gas safety certificate when asked, keep smoke alarms working, provide electrical safety certificates, and deal with repairs properly. Keeping on top of those conditions is mostly a matter of records.

That's the part Gaffy helps with. Each property gets a vault where you store the gas safety certificate, EICR and EPC with their expiry dates, and Gaffy flags anything expired or expiring soon, so the certificate a licence condition asks for doesn't lapse. Tenants report repairs through a link in their phone's browser, with photos, which gives you a dated repair history if the council asks. Gaffy is £12 a month for up to 5 properties, plus £4 a month for each extra property, and the first month is free. We don't apply for licences on your behalf.