How to Apply for a Landlord Licence in Barking and Dagenham

LBBD processes all licence applications through its online portal — there are no paper forms. If you need accessibility help, contact the PRPL team at [email protected] or 020 8724 8898 before you start.

Before You Log In

Get everything together first. Once you pay the Part A fee, you cannot get it back — and if you can't supply missing documents within two months of the council asking, the application is refused and the fee is gone.

Documents you'll need ready:

• Gas Safety Certificate (annual, from a Gas Safe registered engineer)
• EICR showing "Satisfactory" — all C1 and C2 defects must be resolved
• EPC at Band E minimum (or proof of a registered exemption on the PRS Exemptions Register)
• Measured floor plan showing room dimensions in square metres, window positions and escape routes
• Copy of the tenancy agreement
• Smoke alarm and CO detector test records
• For HMOs: fire risk assessment, fire alarm and emergency lighting test certificates

Information you'll need:

• Full names and contact details for the proposed licence holder, manager and applicant
• Details of all interested parties (mortgage lender, freeholder, joint owners)
• Written confirmation that interested parties have been notified about the application

The Application Steps

1. Register an account on the LBBD licensing portal
2. Enter the property address — the portal confirms which scheme applies based on the location
3. Fill in property details: room counts, amenity ratios, occupant numbers, household composition
4. Upload documents in PDF or JPEG format
5. Declare interested parties and confirm they've received written notification
6. Pay the Part A fee by debit or credit card — £650 for selective, £1,000 for HMO licences
7. Save the confirmation receipt and reference number — this is your proof of application date

Who Goes Where on the Form

The portal asks for three distinct roles that can be filled by different people:

The licence holder must have legal authority to control the property, collect rent and authorise repairs. For most small landlords, this is the property owner.

The manager handles day-to-day operations — could be you or a letting agent.

If you're a non-UK resident landlord, you cannot be sole licence holder unless you appoint a UK-based managing agent who accepts joint compliance liability. Corporate applicants need a UK-registered office and Companies House number.

The Fit and Proper Person Test

Both the proposed licence holder and manager must pass LBBD's fit and proper person assessment. You'll need to declare any convictions for fraud, dishonesty, violence, drug or sexual offences, discrimination findings, housing law breaches, or previous licence refusals or revocations.

LBBD doesn't routinely require a DBS check for selective applications, but they reserve the right to request criminal record certificates if anything in the fit and proper assessment raises concerns.

After You Submit

The PRPL team reviews your application for completeness. If documents are missing or defective, you get a formal request with a two-month deadline to supply them.

Assuming everything's in order, the council schedules a property inspection — they aim for within six months of a valid application. After the inspection, you receive a Notice of Intent (proposed decision), followed by a 21-day consultation window where interested parties can raise objections. Then the final licence is granted.

The whole process from submission to licence can take several months. The good news: having a valid pending application is a statutory defence against prosecution for operating unlicensed, timestamped from the moment the council receives it.

For a complete document checklist, portal walkthrough and fee calculator, the Barking and Dagenham Landlord Licensing Guide covers every step.

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