Council licensing · London

Licensing in Newham

Newham has selective licensing in 22 wards and additional HMO licensing in 22 wards.

Researched 14 October 2026 · Independently checked 14 October 2026

Check a specific address in Newham

We match the postcode to its ward and the schemes below.

Licensing, ward by ward

Tap a ward, or focus it with your keyboard, to see its name and recorded coverage.

Selective licensing area22
National rules only2

Current ONS ward boundaries. Exemptions apply. Use the postcode check and scheme details for your property.

Selective licensing: 22 wards
Additional HMO licensing: Yes, 22 wards
Article 4 on house shares: Yes
Consultation: None open

Licensing schemes

Selective licence
In force
London Borough of Newham Designation of an Area for Selective Licensing No.1 2023
Area
Every Newham ward except Royal Victoria and Stratford Olympic Park. The designation prints the end of the list as 'Wall End & West Ham' (two wards).
22 wards, as named in the designation (2022 wards (designation covers '22 out of 24 Wards', Newham's current ward pattern)):
Beckton
Boleyn
Canning Town North
Canning Town South
Custom House
East Ham
East Ham South
Forest Gate North
Forest Gate South
Green Street East
Green Street West
Little Ilford
Manor Park
Maryland
Plaistow North
Plaistow South
Plaistow West & Canning Town East
Plashet
Royal Albert
Stratford
Wall End
West Ham
Runs
1 June 2023 to 31 May 2028
Fee
£750 for 5 years
New or renewal: Part A £400 plus Part B £350. Accredited licence holder: £50 off; accredited with EPC A+ to C: a further £50, taking the online fee to £650. Multi-dwelling (same block, ownership and control): first flat £750, then £700 each. Newly private-rented property with EPC C or above: £400, by prior arrangement. LB Newham nightly-paid temporary accommodation: £400. Paper application: an extra £100. Starred discounts are not available once a failure-to-licence warning letter has been sent. The fee page shows no update date.
Who needs one
Any building, house, maisonette or flat in the designated wards occupied under a single non-exempt tenancy or licence, or under two or more non-exempt tenancies of different dwellings in it, including single-family lets and 2 unrelated sharers. Licensable HMOs are excluded.
Exemptions
Registered-provider social tenancies; prohibition orders; business, licensed-premises and agricultural tenancies; lettings by local authorities, police, fire or NHS bodies; Schedule 14 buildings (regulated otherwise, or student buildings); long leases over 21 years; family lets by a freeholder or long leaseholder; holiday homes; lettings sharing accommodation with the landlord or the landlord's family. Statutory exceptions: HMOs licensable under Part 2, temporary exemption notices, interim or final management orders.
Notes
This is Newham's renewed borough-wide selective scheme. Cabinet made the designation on 22 June 2022 and the Secretary of State (DLUHC) confirmed it on 7 December 2022 (notice dated 12 December 2022). It came into force 1 June 2023 and 'shall cease to have effect after 31st May 2028'. The previous designation (made 15 June 2017) ran 1 March 2018 to 28 February 2023, so no selective designation was in force from 1 March to 31 May 2023. The council confirms this on its designation list, which gives 'Selective Licensing Designation (Newham Borough wide, E20 excluded) – 01.03.2018 – 28.02.2023' and the current designation as '01.06.2023 – 31.05.2028'. That matters for rent repayment and penalty look-back periods. The council's 'Unlicensed properties' page still quotes a £30,000 penalty and 12 months' rent repayment; its May 2026 enforcement policy uses the £40,000 maximum. No consultation on a successor scheme was found as of 2026-10-14.
Apply on the council site Designation or map
Sources
Additional HMO licence
In force
London Borough of Newham Designation for Additional Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation No.1 2023
Area
All Newham wards except Royal Victoria and Stratford Olympic Park (outlined red on Annex A, excluded areas shaded pink).
22 wards, as named in the designation (2022 wards):
Beckton
Boleyn
Canning Town North
Canning Town South
Custom House
East Ham
East Ham South
Forest Gate North
Forest Gate South
Green Street East
Green Street West
Little Ilford
Manor Park
Maryland
Plaistow North
Plaistow South
Plaistow West & Canning Town East
Plashet
Royal Albert
Stratford
Wall End
West Ham
Runs
1 January 2023 to 31 December 2027
Fee
£1,250 for 5 years
New or renewal: Part A £400 plus Part B £850. Newly private-rented property with EPC C or above: £800 (Part A £250, Part B £550), by prior arrangement. £50 accredited discount, plus £50 more with EPC C or above. Paper application: an extra £100.
Who needs one
HMOs occupied by 3 or more persons in 2 or more households meeting the standard, self-contained flat or converted building tests (or subject to an HMO declaration) that are not mandatory-licensable. In practice, 3-4 sharers.
Exemptions
Section 257 converted blocks of flats are excluded; Schedule 14 buildings; mandatory HMOs; properties with a temporary exemption notice or interim or final management order.
Notes
Made 22 June 2022 under the 2015 General Approval (notice dated 16 September 2022). In force 1 January 2023 and ceases 31 December 2027. It directly followed the previous additional designation (made 15 June 2017, in force 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2022), with no gap. Penalty wording in the notice is '£30,000 per offence' (pre-Renters' Rights Act).
Apply on the council site Designation or map
Sources
Mandatory HMO licence
In force
Mandatory house in multiple occupation licence
Area
National scheme across the whole borough, including Royal Victoria and Stratford Olympic Park.
Fee
£1,400 for 5 years
Banded by lettings (new or renewal): up to 5 lettings £1,400 (Part A £450, Part B £950); 6-9 £1,550; 10-14 £1,700; 15-19 £1,850; 20-29 £2,600; 30-39 £3,350; 40-49 £4,100; 50-59 £4,850; 60-69 £5,600; 70-79 £6,350; then £750 more per additional 10 lettings. £50 accredited discount, plus £50 with EPC C or above. Contact the council before applying for 30+ lettings.
Who needs one
HMOs shared by 5 or more people forming 2 or more households.
Exemptions
Schedule 14, Housing Act 2004.
Apply on the council site
Sources
- newham.gov.uk: 8
- newham.gov.uk: 9

Article 4 for house shares

Newham has an Article 4 direction on houses in multiple occupation. Turning a family home into a shared house may need planning permission.

Area: Borough_wide except the area then within the control of the London Legacy Development Corporation (2013 confirmation notice)
Takes effect: 31 July 2013

Council source

Civil penalty policy

The council's policy sets how it decides the size of a fine. The version we found has been updated for the Renters' Rights Act.

Private Housing: Enforcement Policy, effective 1 May 2026 (version 1.2 dated 7 July 2026). Appendix 2 is the Financial Penalty Matrix. There are two matrices: 'breaches' (max £7,000) and 'offences' (max £40,000). Starting points follow the national guidance but are raised 10% because Newham's average rent (£1,910 a month) is above the English average (£1,423). Adjustments for aggravating and mitigating factors are capped at 25% below or above the starting point; the statutory cap always applies. Licensing starting points: mandatory or additional HMO unlicensed (s72(1)) £18,700 (range £14,025-£23,375); selective unlicensed (s95(1)) £13,200 (range £9,900-£16,500); knowingly permitting HMO over-occupation £22,000; licence-condition breaches set locally by severity. A separate penalty is usually imposed for each breach or offence, subject to a totality check, and joint landlords are jointly and severally liable. Rental income or asset evidence can justify an increase to remove profit.

Newham's civil penalty policy

Consultations

Property licensing consultation (additional and selective schemes 2023-2028)Approved

Not yet confirmed

These points were unresolved when we researched Newham on 14 October 2026. Check them with the council before you rely on them.

Not yet confirmed
No consultation yet on successors to the additional designation (ends 31 December 2027) or the selective designation (ends 31 May 2028) as of 2026-10-14. Watch for a 2026-27 consultation.
Not yet confirmed
Article 4 HMO direction (2013) excludes land then within the London Legacy Development Corporation's control. Whether that excluded area is still outside the direction today was not confirmed. LLDC planning powers returned to Newham at the end of November 2024; no extension or new direction was found. Not independently re-checked (verification of 2026-10-14): whether the direction now covers the former LLDC area.
Not yet confirmed
Licence condition documents for the 2023 schemes not located on the current pages (conditions_url null).
Not yet confirmed
Fee page carries no 'last updated' date. Confirm the fees shown (selective £750, additional £1,250) are the 2026/27 rates.

Landlord register

Licensing is separate from the national landlord register. Newham is in London, where the planned registration window runs from 15 July 2027 to 14 October 2027. The regulations are still in draft. Register dates, fee and documents