Downham Selective Licensing: What Lewisham Landlords Need to Know

Downham is one of the 16 wards covered by Lewisham's selective licensing scheme, falling under Designation 3 alongside Bellingham, Forest Hill, Grove Park and Whitefoot. The scheme runs from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2029. If you let a single-household property or a two-sharer flat in Downham, you need a selective licence.

Pre-2022 Boundaries

Like all the designated wards, Downham's selective licensing boundary follows the pre-May 2022 ward map. Downham borders Bellingham to the west and Grove Park to the south — all three are designated, so the boundary between them does not create a licensing gap. The more relevant edge is to the north and east, near Catford South and Whitefoot, though both of those are also designated.

For Downham, the pre-2022 boundary issue is less acute than for wards bordering the two excluded wards (Blackheath and Telegraph Hill). Still, if your property is on a boundary street, confirm it through the council's GIS address checker on the MetaStreet portal rather than relying on a generic postcode lookup.

The Area's Housing Profile

Downham is dominated by inter-war and post-war housing — the Downham Estate, built by the London County Council in the 1920s and 1930s, accounts for a large share of the housing stock. Many properties have passed from council to private ownership through Right to Buy and subsequent resales. Single-household lets are common, making selective licensing the most relevant scheme for the area.

Properties let to three or more occupants from two or more households sharing basic amenities fall under HMO licensing, which is borough-wide and does not depend on ward designation.

Fees

The fee structure is the same across all designated wards:

• Part A: £160 (non-refundable, paid on application)
• Part B: £480 (paid before the licence is granted)
• Total: £640 (reduced to £544 with an NRLA or London Landlord Accreditation Scheme discount on Part B)

What Downham Landlords Should Watch

Lewisham has stated a target of inspecting 60% of private rented sector properties by 2029. Downham's high density of single-household lets and its inclusion in Designation 3 make it a likely focus for proactive inspections. The licence conditions require annual gas safety certificates, a valid EICR, PAT testing of landlord-supplied appliances, adequate waste management and an anti-social behaviour protocol.

The Lewisham licensing guide covers the full application process, the document requirements and the conditions that run for the licence term.

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