Council licensing · London
Licensing in Redbridge
Redbridge has selective licensing in 17 wards and additional HMO licensing across the whole council area.
Researched 14 October 2026 · Independently checked 14 October 2026
Check a specific address in Redbridge
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.
- Check council map: area not fully drawn22
Additional HMO licensing also covers the whole council area.
Current ONS ward boundaries. Exemptions apply. Use the postcode check and scheme details for your property.
- Selective licensing
- 17 wards
- Additional HMO licensing
- Yes, whole council area
- Article 4 on house shares
- Yes
- Consultation
- None open
Licensing schemes
Selective licence
In forceThe London Borough of Redbridge Selective Licensing Scheme (Ilford Town and Valentines Wards) 2023 (Scheme 3)
- Area
Two central Ilford wards, edged red on the map at Annex A of the designation.
2 wards, as named in the designation (unknown):
- Ilford Town
- Valentines
- Runs
- 1 November 2023 to 31 October 2028
- Fee
£998
For applications submitted 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027: £371.05 on application plus £626.64 on approval (£591.64 with proof of accreditation, a £35 discount). Paper application: an extra £139.23. Optional pre-licensing property visit and report: £477.
- Who needs one
- Any house or flat in the two wards let or occupied under a tenancy or licence (a single person, two people or a single household) that is not a licensable HMO.
- Exemptions
- Licensable HMOs; non-profit registered-provider lettings; and the exempt tenancies in Appendix B of the notice (SI 2006/370 categories: prohibition orders, business, licensed-premises and agricultural tenancies, public-body lettings, specified student lettings, long leases, family arrangements, holiday lets, resident-landlord sharing). The council page also lists properties where the landlord already holds an HMO licence, and empty properties.
- Notes
- Signed 26 June 2023. No Secretary of State confirmation was needed (2015 General Approval). In force 1 November 2023 and ceases 31 October 2028 'unless revoked beforehand or extended'. Licences are only approved for properties with EPC grades A-E. The licence holder must complete a landlord accreditation course (LLAS or similar) within 18 months of the full licence. The council page says tenants can reclaim up to 12 months' rent.
Selective licence
In forceThe London Borough of Redbridge Selective Licensing (Scheme 4) 2024
- Area
Fifteen wards, edged red on the map at Annex A of the designation. Together with Scheme 3, 17 wards are covered.
15 wards, as named in the designation (unknown):
- Aldborough
- Barkingside
- Chadwell
- Churchfields
- Clementswood
- Cranbrook
- Fairlop
- Goodmayes
- Hainault
- Loxford
- Mayfield
- Newbury
- Seven Kings
- South Woodford
- Wanstead Village
- Runs
- 8 April 2024 to 7 April 2029
- Fee
£998
Same 2026/27 fee as Scheme 3: £371.05 plus £626.64 (£35 off the second payment if accredited). Paper application: an extra £139.23.
- Who needs one
- Any house or flat in the 15 wards let or occupied under a tenancy or licence (a single person, two people or a single household) that is not a licensable HMO.
- Exemptions
- As Scheme 3: licensable HMOs, registered-provider lettings and SI 2006/370 exempt tenancies (Appendix B of the notice).
- Notes
- Application to the Secretary of State was made 4 August 2023 and confirmed 20 December 2023 (notice signed 21 December 2023). In force 8 April 2024 and ceases 7 April 2029. EPC A-E and accreditation-course requirements as Scheme 3.
Additional HMO licence
In forceThe London Borough of Redbridge Additional HMO Licensing Scheme 2023
- Area
The whole London Borough of Redbridge, edged red on the map at Annex A.
- Runs
- 18 September 2023 to 17 September 2028
- Fee
£1,865 for 5 years
For applications 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027, by number of households. First stage is £696.14 at every size. Totals: 2 households £1,865.34; 3 £1,969.60; 4 £2,088.42; 5 £2,185.95; 6 £2,296.93; 7 £2,401.18; 8 £2,506.56; 9 £2,617.53; 10+ £2,728.51. £35 off the second stage with accreditation. Paper application: an extra £139.23. One fee table covers both HMO licence types.
- Who needs one
- HMOs under any section 254 test rented to 3 or more occupiers in 2 or more households who share (or lack) a toilet, washing or cooking facilities, other than mandatory HMOs. Also section 257 converted buildings where all units are privately rented and the building and units are in the same ownership or control, including above non-residential premises.
- Exemptions
- Schedule 14 buildings; HMOs under interim or final management orders; HMOs with a temporary exemption; mandatory-licensable HMOs; section 257 buildings of no more than two flats.
- Notes
- Notice dated 30 May 2023 under the 2015 General Approval. In force Monday 18 September 2023 and ceases 17 September 2028. Proof of planning permission to run an HMO is requested. HMOs of up to 6 people begun after 6 December 2019 need planning consent (borough-wide Article 4). For 7+ person HMOs without the correct planning status, the council normally issues a 1-year licence.
Mandatory HMO licence
In forceMandatory HMO licence
- Area
National scheme across the whole borough.
- Fee
£1,865 for 5 years
Same 2026/27 HMO fee table as additional licensing (by households; first stage £696.14). A 5-household HMO costs £2,185.95.
- Who needs one
- Privately rented properties occupied by 5 or more people making up 2 or more households.
- Exemptions
- Schedule 14, Housing Act 2004.
Article 4 for house shares
Redbridge 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 (whole of the London Borough of Redbridge; non-immediate direction made 3 December 2018, confirmed 23 April 2019)
- Takes effect
- 6 December 2019
Civil penalty policy
The council's policy sets how it decides the size of a fine. The version we found has not been updated for the Renters' Rights Act.
Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy 2023: implemented 21 July 2023, supersedes February 2019, next review October 2025 (overdue). It states a £30,000 maximum and follows the 2016 DLUHC guidance. Appendix A matrix scores six criteria: severity (1-20), culpability, harm or potential harm, punishment, deterrence, and financial benefit. The total score maps to a fee band: 1-5 £250; 6-10 £500; 11-20 £750; 21-30 £1,000; 31-40 £2,500; 41-50 £5,000; 51-60 £10,000; 61-70 £15,000; 71-80 £20,000; 81-90 £25,000; 91-120 £30,000. The matrix is guidance only. An enforcement panel (a senior officer and a manager) decides between prosecution and civil penalty and reviews representations. There is a 28-day representation period and a right of appeal to the First-tier Tribunal. Much of the PDF text is not machine-readable; the cover, sections 12-13 and Appendices A-B were read.
Consultations
No consultation was recorded when we researched Redbridge.
Not yet confirmed
These points were unresolved when we researched Redbridge on 14 October 2026. Check them with the council before you rely on them.
- Not yet confirmed
Licence term for selective licences is not stated on the council page (HMO licences: five years).
- Not yet confirmed
Ward boundary vintage for the Scheme 3 and Scheme 4 designations is not stated in the notices.
- Not yet confirmed
Remaining wards outside the selective schemes are not named by the council pages fetched. Only the 17 covered wards are listed.
- Not yet confirmed
Enforcement policy review date (October 2025) has passed and the matrix tops out at £30,000. Check whether Redbridge has adopted a Renters' Rights Act 2025 update.
- Not yet confirmed
No licensing consultation found on Let's Talk Redbridge (engage.redbridge.gov.uk) as of 2026-10-14; the old Citizen Space host engagement.redbridge.gov.uk no longer resolves.
- Not yet confirmed
Not independently re-checked (verification of 2026-10-14): the matrix bands in the 2023 enforcement policy (the PDF text is largely not machine-readable).
Landlord register
Licensing is separate from the national landlord register. Redbridge 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