London
HMO licensing in Tower Hamlets
London Borough of Tower Hamlets requires a mandatory licence for HMOs occupied by 5 or more people from 2 or more households. It also runs additional licensing, which brings smaller HMOs (typically 3 or 4 people) into licensing. The published licence fee starts at £977.
Mandatory licence
5+ people, 2+ households
National scheme
Additional / selective
Additional
Council-designated schemes
Licence fee
From £977
Decision time
About 52 weeks
The council's stated aim
Licensing schemes in Tower Hamlets
Borough-wide additional HMO licensing (3+ people from 2+ households, all 20 wards) is in force from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2029. The separate selective licensing scheme (Weavers, Whitechapel, Banglatown & Spitalfields) ended on 30 September 2026; from 1 October 2026 there is no selective scheme in the borough, and the council says it is considering options for a new one (no consultation announced).
- In force from
- 1 April 2024
- Scheme ends
- 31 March 2029
Verified 5 October 2026
Licence fees
The published fee for a new HMO licence is £977, and £977 to renew. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.
Tower Hamlets charges licences in two parts (Part A on application, Part B on grant), with paying the full fee upfront online being cheaper than paying by post in two stages. Mandatory HMO licence: £977 total online (Part A £453.50 + Part B £583.50), plus £68.50 per habitable room above the base rate; £1,147 if applying by post (Part A £584 + Part B £619). Additional HMO licence: £1,323 total online (Part A £618 + Part B £787.50); £1,550.50 by post. Selective licence: £897 total online for a new application (Part A £422 + Part B £530), or £747 online for a renewal (Part A £352 + Part B £371); postal applications cost £1,034 (new) or £882 (renewal). Admin fees for missing documents and £40/hour floor-plan preparation charges apply on top where relevant. Fees apply from 1 April 2025 and are reviewed annually to keep the schemes cost-neutral.
Check the current fee on the council website (towerhamlets.gov.uk) before you apply.
Additional and selective licence fees
Fees for council-designated schemes are set separately from the mandatory HMO fee. Figures are the standard full-rate fee for a new licence, before any discounts.
Additional licence
£1,323
Additional HMO licence, new application made online and paid in full (5-year licence). The council publishes a single fee for new and renewal applications; no per-room supplement for additional licences
No discounts listed on the fee page. Paying in two parts costs more: Part A £618 + Part B £787.50 (£1,405.50 in total). Postal applications cost more: £1,550.50 in full, or Part A £707 + Part B £926 if split. £157.50 charge for missing documents; floor plan preparation £40 per hour.
Scheme: From 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2029
Checked 2 October 2026 against towerhamlets.gov.uk
Minimum room sizes
| Double bedroom (2 persons aged 10+) | 10.22 m² minimum floor area (national HMO space standard, SI 2018/616). |
|---|---|
| Single bedroom (1 person aged 10+) | 6.51 m² minimum floor area (national HMO space standard, SI 2018/616). |
| Room occupied by a child under 10 | 4.64 m² minimum floor area; any room below this cannot be used as sleeping accommodation at all (SI 2018/616). |
National minimums for licensed HMOs are 6.51 m² for one adult and 10.22 m² for two adults; councils can apply higher local standards.
Fire safety requirements
- Smoke alarms fitted and kept in working order on every storey used as living accommodation.
- Escape routes kept clear of obstruction, with fire doors fitted where required and maintained.
- Carbon monoxide alarms required in any room containing a solid fuel burning appliance.
- Fire-fighting equipment provided where appropriate to the property's layout and size.
Kitchen, bathroom and amenity standards
- Adequate kitchen facilities for storing, preparing and cooking food, appropriate to the number of occupiers.
- Adequate number of bathrooms and toilets for the number of occupiers sharing them.
- All shared amenities kept in good decorative repair, clean condition and proper working order.
Documents you will need
- Gas safety certificate (CP12) — Current annual gas safety record required for every gas appliance in the property.
- EICR — Electrical Installation Condition Report confirming the fixed wiring is safe, required under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020.
- EPC — Valid Energy Performance Certificate for the property.
Sources
Compiled from the council’s own published pages and documents; data reviewed September 2026. Rules and fees change, so always confirm with London Borough of Tower Hamlets before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.