Landlord licence Hackney: what you need, where, and what it costs

Do you need a landlord licence in Hackney? Yes for most lets. Since 1 May 2026, selective licensing has covered 17 of Hackney's wards and additional HMO licensing has covered the whole borough. This page sets out every scheme Hackney Council currently runs, the fees as published, and how Hackney's rented housing compares with the rest of England and Wales, using Census 2021 figures. We last re-checked the council's pages on 21 October 2026.

Published 21 October 2026 · Updated 21 October 2026

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Hackney landlord licensing at a glance

Scheme	In force?	Where it applies	Dates
Selective licensing	Yes	17 wards: Brownswood, Cazenove, Clissold, Dalston, De Beauvoir, Hackney Central, Hackney Downs, Hackney Wick, Homerton, King's Park, Lea Bridge, London Fields, Shacklewell, Springfield, Stamford Hill West, Stoke Newington, Victoria	1 May 2026 to 30 April 2031
Additional HMO licensing	Yes	Whole borough, HMOs with 3-4 people in 2+ households	1 May 2026 to 30 April 2031
Mandatory HMO licensing	Yes	All of England	Ongoing

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

How big is the private rented sector in Hackney?

At the 2021 Census, 34,147 of Hackney's 106,081 households rented privately. That's 32.2% of households, against 20.3% across England and Wales as a whole. By number of privately renting households, Hackney ranked 29 of the 331 local authorities in England and Wales; by share it ranked 16. For comparison, 26,066 households (24.6%) owned their home and 42,945 (40.5%) rented socially.

About a third of Hackney households rent privately. Its two new schemes started together on 1 May 2026, so many Hackney landlords will be licensing for the first time this year.

Hackney selective licensing wards

Hackney's selective licensing designation was made on 1 December 2025 and came into force on 1 May 2026, running until 30 April 2031. It covers 17 wards: Brownswood, Cazenove, Clissold, Dalston, De Beauvoir, Hackney Central, Hackney Downs, Hackney Wick, Homerton, King's Park, Lea Bridge, London Fields, Shacklewell, Springfield, Stamford Hill West, Stoke Newington and Victoria. You need a selective licence there if you let to a single household, a single tenant, or two people sharing.

Hackney additional HMO licensing

The additional licensing designation covers the whole borough from 1 May 2026 to 30 April 2031. The council says you need one if 3 or 4 people from 2 or more households share facilities such as a kitchen or bathroom, including houses, flats in converted houses and flats in blocks.

How paying for a Hackney licence works

Hackney takes the fee in two parts. Part A is due when you submit your application, and the council says it won't refund it if it rejects the application or you withdraw. Part B is due once the council has assessed and approved the licence, and the final licence isn't issued until the full fee is paid. Discounts apply to specific parts: EPC and accreditation discounts come off Part B, while the £100 multi-dwelling discount comes off Part A. If you can't apply online, the council's property licensing team is on 020 8356 4866. GOV.UK adds that you can appeal licence conditions to the First-tier Tribunal.

Hackney landlord licence fees

As published by the council: selective £925 (£555 Part A plus £370 Part B); additional HMO £1,400 (£840 plus £560); mandatory HMO £1,400 (£840 plus £560). Discounts: £100 off Part B for an EPC of B or above, £50 off Part B for an EPC of C, £100 off Part B for accredited landlords, and £100 off Part A for multi-dwelling applications.

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

Count the people and households living in the property. A household is a single person, or members of the same family living together, including couples.
If 5 or more people from 2 or more households share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet, you need a mandatory HMO licence wherever you are in England.
If 3 or 4 people from 2 or more households share facilities anywhere in Hackney, you need an additional HMO licence.
If it's let to one household, one person or two sharers in one of the 17 wards, you need a selective licence.
If none of these apply, you don't need a property licence, but every other landlord duty (gas safety, electrical safety, EPC, deposit protection, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms) still does.

Letting in Hackney without a licence

Hackney's schemes only started on 1 May 2026, so many landlords in Dalston, Stoke Newington or Hackney Wick are licensing for the first time. GOV.UK says renting out an unlicensed HMO can mean an unlimited fine, and councils can enforce over unlicensed selective-licensing homes, with tenants able to seek rent repayment orders. If you haven't applied yet, do it now.

Hackney licence conditions

Hackney's designations end on 30 April 2031, and GOV.UK caps any licence at 5 years. Hackney's EPC discounts show the council cares about energy performance as well as safety. GOV.UK's standard HMO conditions include sending an updated gas safety certificate to the council every year, maintaining smoke alarms and providing electrical safety certificates on request.

Keeping Hackney licence paperwork in order with Gaffy

First-time Hackney licence holders can use Gaffy to keep each property's gas safety certificate, EICR and EPC in one vault, with expiry dates flagged. That EPC is worth up to £100 off your Hackney fee, so it pays to have it to hand. Tenants report repairs by phone link with photos. Gaffy is £12 a month for up to 5 properties, plus £4 a month for each extra property, with the first month free, and we'll set your properties up for you. We don't apply for licences.

FAQ

When did Hackney licensing start?

Both the selective and additional schemes came into force on 1 May 2026.

How much is a Hackney selective licence?

£925 (£555 plus £370), with discounts for good EPC ratings and accreditation.

Which Hackney wards are not in selective licensing?

Any ward not in the list of 17, though HMOs there still need additional or mandatory licences.

Does a better EPC lower the fee in Hackney?

Yes, £100 off Part B for EPC B or above and £50 off for EPC C.

How many people rent privately in Hackney?

At the 2021 Census, 34,147 households in Hackney rented privately, 32.2% of all households (ONS, Census 2021 table TS054).

Is this legal advice?

No. It's general information drawn from Hackney Council's published pages, checked 21 October 2026. Schemes and fees in Hackney can change, so confirm with the council before you let or apply.

Nearby councils

Other landlord rules

Sources

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