How to Apply for an HMO Licence in Camden: Portal, Documents and Steps

Camden's HMO licence application runs entirely through an online portal — no paper forms, no walk-in submissions. The process takes about 45 minutes if you've prepared your documents in advance. Without preparation, you'll hit upload requirements you weren't expecting and risk session timeouts or rejected submissions.

Documents You Need Before Starting

Gather these before you open the portal. Camden asks for the relevant certificates and floor plans with the application, and incomplete submissions can delay the "duly made" date — leaving you exposed to unlicensed letting liability while you chase missing paperwork:

• Gas safety certificate — annual inspection by a Gas Safe registered engineer (only if the property has gas appliances)
• Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) — conducted within the last five years by a qualified electrician, rated "Satisfactory." All C1 and C2 codes must be rectified before submission
• Fire detection and alarm certificate — a test certificate for the installed fire alarm system, issued within the last 12 months
• Emergency lighting certificate — issued within the last 12 months, if emergency lighting is installed
• Metric floor plans — room-by-room layouts showing dimensions in square metres, location of fire safety equipment, and escape routes

The full application must include a completed form, the correct fee, gas safety certificates where applicable, floor plans and a valid EICR. If required information remains missing after Camden's stated deadline, the council can reject the application as not duly made. Statutory protection does not apply until the application is duly made.

The Five-Stage Portal Process

Stage 1: Account registration and property selection. Create an account with a verified email address and enter your property's address. The portal maps the address to the correct licensing scheme — mandatory or additional HMO.

Stage 2: Duty holders and interested parties. Enter full contact details for the proposed licence holder, the property manager (if different), and all interested parties — freeholders, mortgage lenders, joint owners. You must declare that you've served written notice of the application on all interested parties.

Stage 3: Property metrics and amenity data. Enter room-by-room measurements in square metres, the number of occupants per room, and counts of kitchens, bathrooms, toilets and fire safety devices. Any room area where the ceiling height is below 1.5 metres must be excluded from the measurement.

Stage 4: Document uploads and declarations. Attach all certificates and floor plans. Sign the fit and proper person declaration — Camden will check for unspent housing-related convictions, fraud offences, and banning orders under the Housing and Planning Act 2016.

Stage 5: Payment. Pay the Part 1 fee (£1,318 under the 2026/27 schedule) by credit or debit card. You can also pay Part 2 (£252) at the same time, or wait until Camden issues the notice of intention to grant.

On successful submission, the portal issues a payment receipt and unique reference number. Keep both as evidence of submission. Once an HMO application is duly made, the statutory defence to the unlicensed-HMO offence is under section 72(4)(b) of the Housing Act 2004.

After You Submit

Camden's housing officers review your submission, check the uploaded documents, and run fit and proper person screening. If anything is missing, they'll set a deadline for you to provide it.

Once satisfied, the council issues a Schedule 5 draft decision notice — a formal notice of intention to grant (or refuse) the licence. You and any interested parties have 14 days to submit written representations on the proposed terms or occupancy limits.

After the representation window closes, Camden issues the final decision notice and grants the licence, typically for five years. Shorter licences (two years) are sometimes issued where there are management concerns or outstanding building control issues.

Common Application Pitfalls

Incomplete floor plans are the most common cause of delays. Camden requires precise metric measurements, not approximate room sizes. If you're submitting plans yourself rather than commissioning a surveyor, measure every room including hallways and bathrooms, and note ceiling heights — particularly in converted loft rooms or basement flats where sub-1.5m sections are common.

Overseas licence holders need a UK-based managing agent. Camden's enforcement policy requires the appointment of someone with a UK service address who agrees to be bound by the licence conditions.

Planning permission isn't granted by the licence. Camden has Article 4 Directions that remove permitted development rights for converting a C3 dwelling into a C4 HMO. Securing a licence doesn't override planning law — you could be licensed but in breach of planning, and face separate enforcement.

The Camden Landlord Licensing Guide includes a pre-portal document staging checklist and the full application walkthrough with fee breakdowns and condition tracking.

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