Reviewed by Bradley Askew, Solicitor (non-practising), England & Wales. Reviewed 3 August 2026.
The Royal Borough of Greenwich runs both a selective licensing scheme in its south-eastern wards and a borough-wide additional HMO licensing scheme — and is currently consulting on a major expansion of selective licensing. This guide sets out what's currently designated, what it costs, and what you risk by letting unlicensed — sourced directly from Greenwich's own published pages, not secondary summaries, because these schemes change frequently.
Current schemes at a glance
| Scheme | Coverage | Dates | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selective licensing | Plumstead and Glyndon, Plumstead Common, Shooters Hill, Woolwich Common, Woolwich Arsenal and Woolwich Dockyard wards. | From 1 October 2022 | contact council |
| Additional HMO licensing | Borough-wide — HMOs with 3 or more unrelated occupiers sharing kitchen, bathroom or toilet facilities. | From 1 January 2024 | £499.88 per unit |
Schemes change — wards get added, fees rise annually, and designations lapse or get renewed. Always check the council's own page (linked below) for the current position before applying or relying on a fee figure.
Scheme detail
Selective licensing
Coverage. Plumstead and Glyndon, Plumstead Common, Shooters Hill, Woolwich Common, Woolwich Arsenal and Woolwich Dockyard wards.
Dates. In force from 1 October 2022. A standard 5-year designation, implying an expiry around September 2027 — confirm the exact date with the council before relying on it.
Fee. Contact the council for the current fee — the council has proposed a replacement scheme (see below) with a different fee structure.
- The council is consulting (21 July – 12 October 2026) on REPLACING this 6-ward scheme with an 18-ward scheme, following a borough-wide finding of around 5,360 privately rented homes with serious hazards. Cabinet approval is expected later in 2026 — the expanded scheme is proposed only and is not yet in force. Landlords should check the council's own selective licensing page for the current designation before letting a property in Greenwich.
Additional HMO licensing
Coverage. Borough-wide — HMOs with 3 or more unrelated occupiers sharing kitchen, bathroom or toilet facilities.
Dates. In force from 1 January 2024. Described by the council as a five-year scheme; its own published pages don't state the exact end date — check directly before relying on a renewal date.
Fee. £499.88 per unit for a standard HMO (up to 5 lettings); for a large HMO (6+ lettings), £499.88 per unit for the first 5 units, then £299 per additional unit; £649.85 per unit for the enhanced tier applied to properties identified via council investigation. Discounts: 15% for professional landlord accreditation, 15% on renewal, and 12% for offering a 12-month tenancy to a council-nominated tenant.
What happens if you let unlicensed
Operating a licensable property without the required licence is a criminal offence. For an HMO, that's section 72 of the Housing Act 2004; for a selective-licensing property, it's section 95. Both carry an unlimited fine on conviction, or a civil penalty of up to £40,000 as an alternative to prosecution, under section 249A of the Housing Act 2004 (raised from £30,000 with effect from 1 May 2026).
On top of a civil penalty, a tenant or the local authority can apply to the First-tier Tribunal for a rent repayment order — for offences committed on or after 1 May 2026, this can require repayment of up to 24 months' rent, under the Housing and Planning Act 2016 (Part 2, Chapter 4) as amended by the Renters' Rights Act 2025. A civil penalty and a rent repayment order can both be awarded for the same unlicensed period, so the combined exposure for a persistently unlicensed property can run well into six figures. See our full rent repayment orders guide for how the tribunal process works and how to defend against an application.
An unlicensed HMO or selective-licensing property can also affect a landlord's enforcement position, and the council can apply for a management order over a persistently unlicensed property, taking day-to-day control away from the landlord.
Common mistakes
- Assuming a licence from a different scheme covers you. Mandatory HMO licensing, additional HMO licensing and selective licensing are three separate legal regimes — a property can need more than one, or a licence under one scheme doesn't excuse a requirement under another.
- Letting a licence lapse. Renewal isn't automatic; operating on an expired licence is treated the same as never having had one.
- Assuming a designation still applies without checking. These schemes are frequently renewed, expanded, or allowed to lapse — always check the council's current page rather than relying on older news coverage or a previous tenancy's paperwork.
- Missing a scheme because a property is just outside the mandatory HMO threshold. Additional and selective licensing exist precisely to bring smaller HMOs and ordinary lettings into scope.
Get help
- Greenwich's own private housing or licensing team — for an address-specific check, an application, or to confirm a scheme's current status: Royal Greenwich — Apply for a private rented property licence (fees), Royal Greenwich — Selective licensing of single private rented homes, Royal Greenwich — Selective Licensing 2026 consultation.
- GOV.UK — HMO licence guidance and selective licensing guidance for local authorities for the primary legal framework.
This is legal information, not legal advice. It explains the position for Greenwich as at 3 August 2026 in general terms and does not take account of your specific circumstances; reading it does not create a solicitor–client relationship. Tenancy Agreement Service is not a law firm and is not regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Licensing schemes change frequently — always confirm current designation, dates and fees directly with the council before applying. If you're facing a licensing dispute, a civil penalty notice, or a rent repayment order application, get advice from a regulated solicitor before responding.
Common questions
Does Greenwich require a landlord licence for my rental property?
Greenwich currently runs two licensing schemes — selective licensing and additional HMO licensing. Whether a specific property needs a licence depends on its exact location and, for HMOs, the number of occupiers and households — check the council's own licensing pages or contact its private housing team to confirm before you let the property.
How much does a landlord licence cost in Greenwich?
Selective licensing: contact council. Additional HMO licensing: £499.88 per unit.
What happens if I let a property in Greenwich without the required licence?
Operating a licensable property without a licence is a criminal offence under the Housing Act 2004 (section 72 for HMOs, section 95 for selective licensing), carrying an unlimited fine on conviction or a civil penalty of up to £40,000 as an alternative to prosecution. Tenants and the local authority can also apply to the First-tier Tribunal for a rent repayment order, which can require the landlord to repay up to 24 months' rent for offences committed on or after 1 May 2026, under the Housing and Planning Act 2016 as amended by the Renters' Rights Act 2025.
How long does a landlord licence last in Greenwich?
Greenwich runs two separate licensing designations, each with its own term of up to 5 years — a licence must be renewed before its own designation expires, and operating on an expired licence is treated the same as operating without one. See each scheme's exact dates on this page.
Do I need a separate mandatory HMO licence as well?
Yes, where it applies. Mandatory HMO licensing (5 or more occupiers from 2 or more households sharing an amenity) applies nationwide regardless of any local selective or additional licensing scheme, and is a separate legal requirement under Part 2 of the Housing Act 2004.
Official sources
- Royal Greenwich — Apply for a private rented property licence (fees) — Official Source
- Royal Greenwich — Selective licensing of single private rented homes — Official Source
- Royal Greenwich — Selective Licensing 2026 consultation — Official Source
- Housing Act 2004, section 72 — offence of operating an unlicensed HMO (legislation.gov.uk) — Official Source
- Housing Act 2004, section 95 — offence of operating an unlicensed house under Part 3 (selective licensing) (legislation.gov.uk) — Official Source
- Housing Act 2004, section 249A — financial penalties (as amended, £40,000 max from 1 May 2026) (legislation.gov.uk) — Official Source
- Housing and Planning Act 2016, Part 2, Chapter 4 — Rent Repayment Orders (legislation.gov.uk) — Official Source
- GOV.UK — Rent repayment orders: guidance for local authorities — Official Source
- GOV.UK — Selective licensing in the private rented sector: a guide for local authorities — Official Source