How We Verify Our Licensing Data

Property licensing rules change frequently and vary by London borough. This page explains what we track, how we check it, and what our tools and guides can and cannot tell you.

Our licence checker uses a versioned compliance engine backed by Neon registry data — not hand-typed rules in page copy. Start with the property licence journey or free licence checker.

1. What We Track

For each of London's 33 local authority areas, we maintain a profile covering: whether Additional or Selective licensing schemes are in force, the wards or areas they cover, mandatory HMO licensing (which applies nationally under the Housing Act 2004), Section 257 rules for converted blocks of flats, room size and amenity standards, application fees, and the penalties a council has stated it will apply for non-compliance.

2. How We Verify It

Each borough profile is checked against publicly published sources: the relevant local authority's own licensing pages, statutory instruments and guidance published on GOV.UK, and the Greater London Authority's property licensing information. Where a scheme is newly introduced, extended or under consultation, we record the scheme's status alongside the date it was checked.

3. Review Cadence and Rule Versions

Borough profiles are checked and re-verified on a rolling basis, and each profile carries a rule version and a last-checked date internally. National statutory figures — such as civil penalty limits, Rent Repayment Order durations, and HHSRS hazard categories — are reviewed whenever we become aware of a change to the underlying legislation or statutory guidance, in addition to the scheduled borough review cycle.

4. What "Verified" Means

A borough marked as checked means we have confirmed its licensing scheme status against the sources described above as of the date recorded. It does not mean every individual address in that borough has been checked — some schemes apply borough-wide, while others are limited to specific wards, streets, or property types. Where a scheme is ward- or street-specific, address-level confirmation is usually needed before you rely on the result.

5. What Our Tools Can and Cannot Confirm

Our licence checker and borough guides give an indicative result based on the information you provide and the borough data described above. They are a starting point, not a formal determination by a local authority. Property-specific factors — exact boundaries, household composition, planning history, and the physical layout of a property — can all affect the correct answer. Where a result is uncertain or borderline, speak to one of our licensing consultants for a manual review before you rely on it for an application, purchase, or letting decision.

6. Limitations

Licensing schemes, fees and standards can change between our checks and the date you read this page. We do not guarantee that borough data is current at every moment, and nothing on this site constitutes legal advice. If you have received correspondence from a council, your situation is borderline, or it is time-sensitive, contact us for a manual review with one of our licensing consultants — we will confirm your property-specific position and next steps. Our tools and guides are a useful starting point alongside that review.