Greenwich Landlord Licence Renewal: Duration, Expiry Dates and How to Renew

How Long Each Licence Lasts

Greenwich property licences are granted for up to five years. The exact duration depends on the scheme and the council's assessment of the application.

Standard grants:

• Mandatory HMO — up to 5 years, no scheme expiry (national requirement)
• Additional HMO — up to 5 years, but the scheme itself runs from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2028, so a licence granted in 2026 cannot extend past the scheme end date
• Selective — up to 5 years, scheme runs from 1 October 2022 to 30 September 2027

A licence granted today under the selective scheme would expire on 30 September 2027 at the latest, even though the maximum statutory term is five years. The licence cannot outlast the designation.

Shorter grants: The council can issue licences for one to three years if there are concerns about:

• A history of property mismanagement or enforcement action
• Outstanding planning issues (common where Article 4 consent is unresolved)
• Limited mortgage or lease consent duration

A shorter grant means an earlier renewal and earlier re-payment of the full fee cycle.

Scheme Expiry vs Licence Expiry

These are different things. A scheme expiry (like the selective scheme ending in September 2027) means the designation lapses unless the council renews or replaces it with a fresh statutory instrument. If neither happens, properties in those areas no longer need a selective licence.

A licence expiry is the date your individual licence runs out. If the scheme is still in force and you are still letting the property, you must renew before that date.

If the proposed 18-ward selective expansion is approved, it would be a new designation with its own five-year term. The council has not announced how existing licences would be treated under a new designation; check the final designation and council guidance before renewing.

The Renewal Process

Renewals go through the same Metastreet portal as new applications. The process is identical: submit documents, pay Stage 1, wait for verification, receive a draft licence, pay Stage 2, receive the final licence.

The difference is timing and cost.

Renew before expiry and you get a 15% discount on the total fee. For a selective licence, that brings the cost from £905.75 down to roughly £770. For a five-unit HMO, the saving is approximately £396 off the standard £2,639.10.

Miss the expiry date and you face a 30% surcharge instead of a discount. You also operate without a licence during the gap, exposing yourself to civil penalties and rent repayment order claims.

Licences Are Non-Transferable

If the property is sold or the corporate entity holding the licence changes, the existing licence terminates automatically. The new owner must submit a fresh application and pay the full fee before letting the property. There is no transfer mechanism or fee credit for the unexpired portion.

This catches landlords who buy tenanted properties in the five selective wards. If the seller had a licence, it dies on completion. The buyer must apply immediately or risk operating unlicensed from day one.

Variation Requests

Changes during the licence term — adding rooms, changing occupancy limits, replacing a managing agent — require a formal variation request through the portal. Minor administrative changes (updating a contact address) are free. Variations that affect room layouts or occupancy limits require officer assessment and may take several weeks.

You cannot vary a selective licence into an HMO licence or vice versa. If the property's occupancy changes enough to trigger a different scheme, you need to apply for the correct licence type as a new application.

Keeping Track

The council does not send automatic renewal reminders with generous lead times. Set your own reminder at least three months before expiry to allow time for gathering updated safety certificates, commissioning a fresh EICR if needed, and submitting through the portal.

Our Greenwich landlord licensing guide includes a renewal tracker worksheet with key dates for each scheme, so nothing slips through.

See more England guides →