The 2026 scheme expands selective coverage and renews the HMO route
Use the adopted notice rather than old consultation maps
The current selective notice names 17 wards, rather than the three-ward scope of the earlier scheme. Use the official address checker and legal map for the property. For three or more sharers, check the HMO category first instead of assuming a selective licence is sufficient.
The additional category has explicit exclusions
The additional notice covers Section 254 HMOs with at least three people in two or more households and excludes Section 257 buildings. Mandatory licensable HMOs, Schedule 14 buildings, management orders and temporary exemptions have separate treatment. The checker models ordinary shared houses; flats and converted accommodation need council assessment.
Gather occupancy and safety information before applying
Hackney asks applicants for property interests, layout, fire safety, a gas safety certificate and the number of adults and children occupying the home. Its published application guidance lists £925 for selective licensing and £1,400 for additional HMO licensing, paid in two parts. Confirm the current schedule and discount evidence when applying.
Which local scheme should I check?
Hackney selective licensing: 2026 commencement
Hackney’s current selective designation covers 17 mapped wards from May 2026. Its smaller HMO route applies across the whole borough instead.
The legal ward map must establish the exact address. An address outside the selective area may still require additional or mandatory HMO licensing.
Reviewed 2026-10-02 · Revision 1
Hackney additional HMO licensing: 2026 commencement
Hackney’s current additional designation covers qualifying HMOs across the whole borough, including ordinary three or four person shared houses.
The notice excludes Section 257 HMOs. Flats, converted accommodation and other non-standard building types need an individual council assessment even where additional licensing may apply.
Reviewed 2026-10-02 · Revision 1
Areas named in the reviewed designations
Area names help you find the relevant notice. They do not establish that a particular postcode, street or property is inside the boundary.
View the named areas (2)
- The 17 wards named in the current selective notice and shown on its purple legal map.
- Additional HMO category: the whole borough.
Before relying on a property result
- Search the exact address in Hackney’s selective ward checker.
- Record occupiers, households and shared facilities to choose the correct HMO route.
- Read the actual licence conditions and track safety, repair and management evidence throughout the licence.
Exclusions and separate checks
- Part 2 licensable HMOs use the HMO route rather than selective licensing.
- Additional licensing excludes Section 257 and Schedule 14 buildings, mandatory licensable HMOs, temporary exemptions and management orders.
- Selective statutory tenancy exclusions need individual review.
Questions about Hackney licensing
Can a home outside the selective wards still need a licence?
Yes. The additional HMO designation is borough-wide for its qualifying category, and national mandatory HMO licensing also applies. An address outside selective licensing is not a general exemption.
Does the additional notice include Section 257 buildings?
The adopted notice expressly excludes them. The treatment of individual flats and other HMO arrangements still needs a property-specific council assessment.