Which areas are covered
| Scheme | Area | Runs | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selective licensing | Whole borough: three designated areas covering all wards (Abbey, Alibon, Barking Riverside, Beam, Becontree, Chadwell Heath, Eastbrook & Rush Green, Eastbury, Gascoigne, Goresbrook, Heath, Longbridge, Mayesbrook, Northbury, Parsloes, Thames View, Valence, Village, Whalebone); applies to properties let to a single household | 6 April 2025 to 5 April 2030 | £950 per property (Part A £650 on application, Part B £300); Part B discount of £200 (Silver compliance award) or £250 (Gold compliance award, accredited landlords) |
| Additional HMO licensing | Whole borough (entire area of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham); HMOs occupied by 3 or more persons forming 2 or more households not covered by mandatory licensing | 9 January 2025 to 8 January 2030 | £1,400 per HMO (Part A £1,000 on application, Part B £400); Part B discount of £200 (Silver) or £250 (Gold compliance award) |
| Mandatory HMO licensing | Whole borough; HMOs occupied by 5 or more persons forming 2 or more households | not published to no end date | Part A £1,000 plus Part B £500 (up to 5 rooms), £600 (6-9 rooms), £700 (10-14 rooms), £800 (15-19 rooms) or £1,000 (20+ rooms) |
Do I need a licence?
- An HMO with five or more people forming two or more households: yes, mandatory HMO licence.
- A smaller HMO inside an additional licensing area: yes, additional licence.
- Any privately rented home inside a selective licensing area: yes, selective licence.
How to apply and what it costs
Apply on the Barking and Dagenham Council website. Published fees: Selective licensing £950 per property (Part A £650 on application, Part B £300); Part B discount of £200 (Silver compliance award) or £250 (Gold compliance award, accredited landlords); Additional HMO licensing £1,400 per HMO (Part A £1,000 on application, Part B £400); Part B discount of £200 (Silver) or £250 (Gold compliance award); Mandatory HMO licensing Part A £1,000 plus Part B £500 (up to 5 rooms), £600 (6-9 rooms), £700 (10-14 rooms), £800 (15-19 rooms) or £1,000 (20+ rooms).
Penalties for letting without a licence
Letting a property that needs a licence without one is an offence. Councils can issue civil penalties or prosecute, and tenants can apply for a rent repayment order.
What else to know about Barking and Dagenham Council
- The selective scheme was made without Secretary of State confirmation under the general approval that took effect on 23 December 2024, replacing the council's previous scheme that ended in summer 2024.
- The council inspects licensable properties before issuing a licence; inspections usually last 20 minutes to an hour and include photographs of any concerns.
- Licences normally run for five years, but a one-year reduced-term licence is issued if a property was unlicensed for three months or more, or a renewal is submitted a month or more after expiry.
- Compliance award discounts are lost if a property was unlicensed for more than three months, has unauthorised alterations, fails fit and proper checks or has non-compliant certificates.
- Homes let by the council or a registered provider, and homes with up to two lodgers, are exempt from licensing.
- The licensing team can be contacted at PRPL@lbbd.gov.uk or 020 8724 8898, and a public register of licences is available on the council's licensing portal.
Landlord compliance checklist
Licensing is one part of compliance. Use the compliance checklist, and if you’re starting a tenancy, the compliance pack.
Frequently asked questions
Does Barking and Dagenham Council have selective licensing?
Yes, in these areas: Whole borough: three designated areas covering all wards (Abbey, Alibon, Barking Riverside, Beam, Becontree, Chadwell Heath, Eastbrook & Rush Green, Eastbury, Gascoigne, Goresbrook, Heath, Longbridge, Mayesbrook, Northbury, Parsloes, Thames View, Valence, Village, Whalebone); applies to properties let to a single household. Check your street on the council’s map.
Does Barking and Dagenham Council have additional HMO licensing?
Yes: Whole borough (entire area of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham); HMOs occupied by 3 or more persons forming 2 or more households not covered by mandatory licensing.
Do large HMOs need a licence?
Yes. Mandatory HMO licensing applies across England to HMOs occupied by five or more people forming two or more households.
How do I apply?
Apply through the council’s website: https://lbbd.metastreet.co.uk/