Hammersmith and Fulham Property Licensing Portal: How to Apply Online

All property licence applications in Hammersmith and Fulham go through the council's online portal. There's no paper form. The process is straightforward if you know what to expect — but one technical glitch has caught out enough applicants that the council itself posts a warning about it.

The Address Lookup Bug

Right on LBHF's licensing page, the council warns: do not use the "lookup post code" function when completing a licence application. The postcode lookup corrupts the address fields in the application form, causing processing failures or rejections.

Instead, type the full property address manually into every address field. It takes an extra minute and avoids a problem that can cost you the non-refundable Part 1 fee if the application is rejected.

The Application Steps

1. Create an account on the LBHF Housing Online portal
2. Enter the property address manually (skip the postcode lookup)
3. Select the licence type — mandatory HMO, additional HMO, or selective — based on your occupancy and address
4. Enter stakeholder details for the applicant, proposed licence holder, and property manager (if different)
5. Complete fit and proper person disclosures for every named person
6. Upload supporting documents — EICR, gas safety certificate, EPC, floor plans, fire risk assessment (for HMOs)
7. Serve notice before submission on interested parties — mortgage lenders, freeholders, and joint owners — that you are applying for a licence
8. Pay the Part 1 fee by credit or debit card and submit the application

Choosing the Right Licence Type

The portal asks you to select the scheme before you start entering details. Get it wrong and LBHF rejects the application, keeps the Part 1 fee, and you start again.

Quick rules: five or more people from two or more households → mandatory HMO. Three or four people from two or more households → additional HMO. Single household or two sharers on one of the 24 selective streets → selective. When in doubt, check the licence decision guide before starting the application.

Corporate Applicants

If a limited company will hold the licence, the company itself must be named — not an individual employee. You'll need the company's full registered name, Companies House number, registered and trading addresses, and the details of a responsible director or company secretary.

After Submission

Once the Part 1 fee is paid and the application is submitted, LBHF processes it. For mandatory HMOs, the council aims to inspect the property and issue a draft licence within 12 weeks. For additional and selective applications, processing times vary — check the portal for status updates.

The Part 2 fee is collected before the licence is formally issued. Once you've paid Part 2 and the council is satisfied, the licence is granted. HMO licences must be displayed in a common area or a copy served to each occupier.

For the complete document checklist and fee breakdown, see the Hammersmith and Fulham Landlord Licensing Guide.

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