London Property Licensing

Lambeth Council has implemented new House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) planning restrictions in the council wards of Streatham Common & Vale and Streatham St. Leonard’s.

According to the council, residents of both wards had expressed concern about the high number of HMOs and associated impacts such as anti-social behaviour, loss of family homes and impact on the character of the area.

Consultation

London Property Licensing is warning private landlords and letting agents about a huge new selective licensing scheme that comes into force in Lambeth on 1 September 2025.

The decision to implement this new licensing scheme was made by the Cabinet Member for Safer Communities on 15 May 2025.

It follows a selective licensing consultation undertaken by Lambeth Council from 11 December 2023 to 4 March 2024 (read here).

Lambeth Council have decided to implement a second selective licensing scheme to extend selective licensing across most of the borough.

First selective licensing scheme already in place

On 2 September 2024 Lambeth Council introduced a selective licensing scheme covering the four council wards of Knights Hill, Streatham Common & Vale, Streatham Hill East and Streatham St Leonards (read here). Within the designated area, licensing was extended to all private rented homes occupied by a single family or two unrelated sharers.

Lambeth Council have introduced a new selective licensing scheme that comes into force on 2 September 2024.

The new selective licensing scheme covering the four council wards of Knights Hill, Streatham Common & Vale, Streatham Hill East and Streatham St Leonards will remain in force for 5 years.

The scheme extends licensing to all private rented homes within the designated area that are occupied by a single household or two unrelated sharers. HMOs already need licensing under the council’s mandatory HMO and additional licensing schemes.