Hammersmith and Fulham HMO Public Register: How to Check If a Property Is Licensed

What the Public Register Is

Under the Housing Act 2004, Hammersmith and Fulham must maintain public registers of properties licensed under its mandatory HMO, additional HMO and selective licensing schemes. The registers record licence details, including addresses, licence holders, managers and dates; the HMO register also shows permitted occupant counts, household limits and room inventories.

The register serves two groups: tenants who want to verify their landlord is licensed, and landlords checking the status of their own property or a property they are about to purchase.

How to Access It

LBHF publishes its public register through the Private Sector Housing Team. The register is available as a downloadable file from the council's website, updated periodically. Search for "property licensing public register" on the LBHF website, or contact the Private Sector Housing Team directly at [email protected] or 020 8753 1703.

If a transaction requires formal confirmation beyond the public register, contact LBHF to ask what it offers and whether a fee applies.

What It Shows

For each licensed property, the register typically includes:

• The property address
• The licence holder's name
• The manager's name
• The start and expiry dates
• For HMO licences, permitted occupant and household limits and room inventory

The register does not show applications in progress — only granted licences. A property that has submitted an application but not yet received the licence will not appear.

Why Tenants Should Check

If you are renting in Hammersmith and Fulham, knowing whether your property is licensed matters for three practical reasons:

Possession rules. Section 21 no-fault evictions have been abolished under the Renters' Rights Act. Licensing does not remove a landlord's other possession-law obligations.

Rent Repayment Orders. If the property should be licensed but is not, you can apply to the First-tier Tribunal for a Rent Repayment Order covering up to 24 months of rent. Each tenant in a shared property can make a separate claim.

Property standards. Licensed properties must meet specific conditions around safety equipment, room sizes and maintenance. Unlicensed properties remain subject to general housing standards and HHSRS enforcement; required licensing adds a separate set of obligations.

Why Landlords Should Check

Before purchasing a rental property in Hammersmith and Fulham, check whether it holds a current licence. If the previous owner held a licence, it does not transfer to you automatically — you need to apply for a new one. If the property should have been licensed and was not, the liability may follow the property and complicate your purchase.

If you already own and let a property, checking the register confirms your licence is recorded correctly. Errors do happen — wrong licence holder name, missing properties, expired licences still showing as active. Catching these early avoids problems if a tenant or the council queries the record.

What to Do If a Property Is Missing

A property that needs a licence and is not on the register falls into one of three categories:

1. Application submitted but not yet processed. The licence has been applied for and is working through the council's review. Contact the Private Sector Housing Team with the application reference number to confirm.
2. Never applied. The landlord has not applied for the licence. This is an offence and can be reported to the Private Sector Housing Team.
3. Licence expired or revoked. A previously licensed property whose licence is no longer current. Contact LBHF about the appropriate new or renewal application.

If you are a tenant and suspect your property should be licensed, check the register first. If it is not listed, contact the council's Private Sector Housing Team — they can confirm whether the property falls within the licensing schemes and investigate if necessary.

The Hammersmith and Fulham Landlord Licensing Guide explains which properties need which licence, so you can determine whether a register check is warranted before contacting the council.

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