Renting in Lewisham

There are 33,000 households privately renting in Lewisham – that’s over a quarter of all homes. We know from speaking to tenants that some landlords don’t look after their properties or make sure they are safe for their tenants. We want to change that.

Most landlords in the borough need one of three license types in order to rent their property:

• a Mandatory License for HMOs - there are 5 or more occupants from 2 or more unrelated households, sharing at least one amenity (eg bathroom, kitchen)
• Additional Scheme license for HMOs -  these cover all Homes of Multiple Occupancy not already covered by the National Mandatory scheme, namely, where there are 3 or 4 occupants from 2 or more unrelated households, sharing at least one amenity
• Selective License - rolled out in July 2024, these licenses cover an additional 20,000 properties which are not covered by either of the above schemes. Almost all privately rented properties need a Selective License, even if you live by yourself or with family

 What this means for you

The Council has been working closely with landlords in the borough to ensure they know their responsibilities and rights under the new licensing scheme.

We inspect licensed properties, ensuring landlords are acting within the conditions of their license. This covers areas such as carrying out repairs in a timely fashion, tackling damp and mould, and ensuring proper fire safety. Find out more about what this means for renters. 

We've done this to improve living standards and weed out rogue landlords.

Landlords found to be in breach of their license conditions can be prosecuted or fined up to £30,000 and their licence reviewed to see if it should be revoked. 

Contact our Private Sector Housing Agency on pshe@lewisham.gov.uk if you suspect your landlord is operating without a license.

Need help?

Contact your local Councillors if you have any concerns about your rented property.

There are also various organisations we recommend you contact, who can offer independent guidance and legal advice.

Shelter offers free legal advice on everything from rent rises to Section 21 evictions. They also run a London Public Advice Line, which you can call on 0344 515 1212 between 10am and 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. 

If you're a landlord, you can get more advice on HMO Licensing and Selective Licensing.