Scheme to stamp out rogue landlords approved by council

From May 2026, most private landlords will need to apply for a licence for each property

Under a new scheme by the council, from May 2026, most private landlords will need to apply for a licence for each property they let.

The scheme aims to protect renters from rogue landlords and increase the standard of properties for tenants.

A licence will cost £925 for a single home and £1,400 for a house in multiple occupation (HMO), meaning a house made up of three or more people from two or more households.

The plans, which were approved on 24 November after 14 weeks of consultation, will be cost-neutral to the council, with fees set to cover the administration, inspection and monitoring required to ensure homes are safe and high quality.

Mayor of Hackney Caroline Woodley said: “Everyone in Hackney deserves a good, safe and secure home, and we know more must be done to make that a reality.

“Most landlords do the right thing, but too many renters face unacceptable conditions and poor property management. These conditions don’t just harm individual tenants, they also contribute to wider issues in Hackney – from disrepair to antisocial behaviour.

“We’ll use every tool we have to enforce against landlords who don’t play by these new rules and focus on building up a network of responsible landlords in the borough.’’ Privately-rented homes make up nearly a third of  residential properties in Hackney.

The borough is known for its pricey rent prices compared with the rest of the capital. The Office for National Statistics found the average monthly private rent in the borough was £2,567 in October 2025, up from £2,411 the previous October.

In contrast, the average monthly private rent in London as a whole was £2,260 in September 2025. Despite the high prices, renters across the country – including in Hackney – can find themselves in unfit living conditions.

While the council stressed most landlords are responsible and keep properties in good condition, a recent independent review of Hackney’s private rented sector found that a significant proportion of privately rented homes may contain serious hazards.

A staggering 30 per cent of HMOs in the borough are predicted to contain a serious hazard, three times the national average.

Serious hazards can come in many forms, but black mould has been a particularly contentious topic since the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak following prolonged exposure to mould in his family home in Rochdale.

Jae Vail, spokesperson for the London Renters Union, told the Citizen: “Nobody should have to pay for housing that makes them sick.

“Too many tenants in Hackney and across London pay sky-high rents but face unsafe conditions in their homes.

Landlord licensing can help hold landlords accountable.

“However, we know that many tenants struggle to get local authorities to take action against landlords who neglect our rights so these new protections must be properly enforced by Hackney Council.

“Tenants also need a legal right to withhold rent in cases of serious disrepair so that we can take power back into our own hands.”

All HMOs will need to have a license in addition to the nationwide licences needed on properties of five or more people from two or more households.

A selective licensing scheme has also been introduced for almost all private rented homes, regardless of the number of tenants.

The remaining four wards will be covered by additional licensing. The council will monitor and inspect properties prior to issuing licences and work with landlords whose rental units are found to be substandard.

Those who put tenants at risk or fail to meet their obligations could face unlimited fines. More information can be found on the council’s website.