Lambeth Licence Processing Time: How Long Applications Take

Lambeth landlords who submit a property licence application and then wait for a quick turnaround are usually disappointed. Processing times stretch into months, and the council does not publish a fixed service-level target. If you are budgeting time — especially around a property purchase, a new tenancy, or the approach of a scheme expiry date — knowing what to expect helps you plan.

Typical Processing Times

There is no official published target for Lambeth's PRS Licensing Team. Landlord reports on forums and from letting agents consistently describe processing times of three to six months for a standard selective licence application, sometimes longer for HMO applications where the room counts and fire safety requirements are more complex.

The Additional HMO scheme expansion (borough-wide since December 2021) and the selective licensing rollout across 23 wards created a surge in applications that the processing team is still working through. Phase 2 selective licensing, which brought 19 more wards online from 1 September 2025, added another wave.

What Slows Things Down

Incomplete applications. If documents are missing, the council requests them and the application sits in a holding queue until they arrive. An EICR with unresolved C1 or C2 defects, an expired gas certificate, or a missing floor plan are common causes.

Fit and proper person queries. If your declarations raise questions — a previous enforcement action, a company with multiple directorships — the council may request further information before progressing.

Part B payment delay. After the council issues a Notice of Intent with draft licence terms, interested parties have 14 calendar days from service to make written representations. Part B is collected after the council's final decision and before the final licence is issued. If you do not pay it when requested, the licence is not issued and the application stalls.

Legal Protection While Waiting

The critical question is whether you have legal cover during the processing period. You do — but only if your application is "duly made." That means all portal fields completed, all mandatory documents uploaded with valid certificates, and the full Part A fee paid.

A duly made application gives you a statutory defence under Sections 72(4) and 95(3) of the Housing Act 2004 to an offence of operating an unlicensed property while the application remains effective. This protection lasts until the council issues its decision.

If your application is not duly made — you started a draft but did not finish it, or you paid the fee without uploading all the documents — you have no pending protection. The council could theoretically pursue enforcement even while your incomplete application sits in their system.

What to Do While Waiting

Keep your safety certificates current. If your EICR or gas certificate expires during the processing period, renew it and upload the replacement to the portal. An expired certificate can trigger a request for information that adds weeks to the timeline.

Save your portal confirmation email, payment receipt, and the list of uploaded documents. If a tenant, mortgage lender, or council officer asks for proof of a pending application, these are what you show.

The Lambeth Landlord Licensing Guide includes the full pre-submission checklist and explains exactly what qualifies as a duly made application, so you can be certain your pending protection is valid from day one.

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