Camden: borough-wide additional HMO licensing to 2030
Camden's current additional HMO designation is borough-wide from 8 December 2025 to 8 December 2030. It covers three or more people forming two or more households, including specified converted self-contained flats. Mandatory licensing still applies to most five-person HMOs, and Camden provides a weekly register and licensing portal.
Additional licensing catches smaller HMOs
Camden's current additional scheme was made on 2 July 2025, came into force on 8 December 2025 and expires on 8 December 2030. It covers HMOs occupied by three or more people forming two or more households, plus relevant section 257 converted self-contained flats where fewer than half of the flats are owner-occupied, subject to statutory exemptions.
Mandatory licensing remains the first check
Most properties occupied by five or more people forming two or more households need a mandatory licence, regardless of storeys. Camden says purpose-built flats in blocks containing three or more flats are exempt from mandatory licensing, but such flats still need to be checked against the borough-wide additional scheme.
Do not carry forward the old scheme
The additional scheme that operated from December 2020 for five years was replaced when the current designation began. Do not use the former scheme's dates or coverage as the current rule. Camden's current application fees and discounts were not safely confirmed in the reviewed material.
The licence stays with the current landlord
Camden normally issues licences for five years, although a one-year licence may be issued in some circumstances. A licence cannot be transferred after a sale or change of landlord, so the new landlord must apply. Applications use Camden's HMO licensing portal.
Register, checker and TEN
Camden's HMO register was updated on 22 August 2026, is updated weekly and includes the licence type, status, address, maximum persons, commencement date, end date and duration. The council directs users to the GLA property-licence checker. A free TEN normally lasts three months and cannot be used simply to avoid licensing.
Enforcement is explicit
Controlling or managing an unlicensed prescribed HMO is an offence punishable on conviction by an unlimited fine. Camden may impose an alternative financial penalty of up to £30,000. A tenant or the council where housing benefit is involved may apply for a rent repayment order for up to twelve months' rent. Current selective licensing and planning Article 4 status were UNVERIFIED - could not confirm on council website.
Verify current Camden designation, fees, portal, register, checker, TEN rules and planning position via Camden Council's official housing pages. Illustrative guide - schemes and fees change; general information, not legal advice.
Renewal tracked from expiry, reminders from 60 days out, proof of service to tenants logged. Knows the 2-month early-renewal rule that keeps your date fixed.
Five years goes quicker than you think. Kept remembers so you don't have to - including the 28-day duty to give tenants a copy.
Expiry tracked from the certificate details you confirm - band E is the current minimum for most domestic private lets unless exempt, and proposed changes are flagged only when they become law.
30-day protection window tracked from the day the money lands - not the tenancy date - with prescribed information logged.
Check dates and follow-up dates for time-limited permissions, stored against each tenant.
Smoke alarms every storey, CO alarms where required, checked and dated at the start of every tenancy.
A one-off duty for tenancies that existed on 1 May 2026. Who was served, when, and how - the £7,000 question, answered with a dated record.
Preparation and export support for the future official registration process - clearly marked as planned.
Additional HMO licensing: Borough-wide to 8 Dec 2030. See the local picture above - every other duty applies exactly as it does nationwide.
Add a postcode and Kept resolves the council, location and local context automatically.
Planned preparation and export support for the government's regional PRS Database rollout.