2026 Authoritative GuideProperty Licensing in
Southwark

Mandatory Fit and Proper Person Disclosures

Information on the proposed licence holder, ensuring they have no unspent criminal convictions or history of landlord breaches. Every person involved in the management of the property — including the applicant, the proposed licence holder, and the managing agent — must complete a Fit and Proper Person assessment.

• Criminal Record: Any unspent convictions involving fraud, dishonesty, violence, drugs, or sexual offences.
• Unlawful Discrimination: Any formal court or tribunal findings regarding unlawful discrimination based on sex, colour, race, ethnic origin, or disability.
• Housing Law Breaches: History of contravening housing, environmental health, or public health laws.
• Previous Enforcement: Details of any properties they managed that were subject to a Control Order or enforcement action under Part 1 of the Housing Act 2004 within the past 5 years.
• Bankruptcy / Insolvency: While it does not automatically disqualify you, some councils require financial standing disclosures to ensure the licence holder can financially maintain the property.

Mandatory Notification of Interested Parties

You must notify every person or body with a legal interest in the property that you are applying for a licence. Failure to serve notice is a common reason for delay or refusal.

• Mortgage Lenders: Any bank or financial institution holding a charge over the property.
• Freeholders / Superior Landlords: The owner of the freehold or any head lessors.
• Joint Owners / Freeholders: Anyone else who shares a legal title to the property.
• Managing Agents / Managers: Any person or company employed to manage the property.
• Long Leaseholders: Anyone holding a lease with more than 3 years remaining.

Note: You do not need to serve this notice to standard periodic tenants or those on an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) with less than three years to run, though you must still supply a list of current tenants to the council.

Legal Disclosures Regarding Company Structure

If you are applying as a Limited Company, you cannot name an individual employee as the licence holder; the company itself must be the licence holder.

• Registered Company Details: The full, legally registered company name and company registration number.
• Addresses: The registered address and trading address (if they differ).
• Responsible Officer: The contact details of a specific, legally responsible director or officer.

Tenancy and Management Legal Disclosures

To hold a valid licence, you must legally disclose and guarantee that you provide specific terms and safety practices directly to your tenants.

• Written Statement of Terms: You must provide every tenant with a written tenancy agreement (terms of occupation).
• Tenant References: You must legally declare that you request and check references for all incoming occupiers to prevent anti-social behaviour.
• Waste Management: You must disclose and detail the property's waste disposal compliance, ensuring adequate bins and collection schedules are met.