Lewisham Public Register of Licensed Properties: How to Search

Lewisham Council maintains a public register of all licensed properties under section 232 of the Housing Act 2004. It is searchable online through the MetaStreet portal, and anyone can use it — tenants, landlords, letting agents, prospective buyers.

How to Search the Register

Go to the public register page on lewisham.metastreet.co.uk. Enter the property postcode or street name and select the address from the results. The register shows:

• Property address
• Name and address of the licence holder
• Name of the managing agent (if different from the licence holder)
• Licence start date and expiry date
• Licence number
• Maximum permitted occupants and household limits

No account or login is required for a public register search.

What a Result Means

Property appears with a current licence — the property has an active licence and the named licence holder is the responsible party. Check the expiry date: if the licence is close to expiry and no renewal application has been submitted, the landlord risks a gap in coverage.

Property does not appear — this does not automatically mean the property is unlicensed. Possible explanations:

• The application was recently submitted and is still being processed. A duly-made application (Part A paid) protects the landlord even though no licence has been granted yet.
• The property is exempt — it may sit in Blackheath or Telegraph Hill (excluded from selective licensing), or occupancy may fall below the HMO threshold.
• The property genuinely has no licence and should have one.

A missing register entry is a starting point for further investigation, not a definitive conclusion.

Why Tenants Use the Register

Tenants check the register for two main reasons:

Rent repayment orders. If a property is unlicensed in a licensable area, tenants can apply to the First-tier Tribunal for a rent repayment order covering up to 12 months of rent under the existing framework, extending to 24 months under the Renters' Rights Act 2025 framework. The register search is the first step in building that case.

General tenancy confidence. A licensed property has passed a fit-and-proper check on the landlord, has valid safety certificates on file, and is subject to licence conditions covering gas safety, electrical safety, waste management and anti-social behaviour protocols. Tenants use the register to verify that these checks have been done.

Why Landlords Should Check Their Own Entry

Verify your register entry after a licence is granted. Common issues:

• Incorrect managing agent details — if you changed agents mid-term, the register may show the old one.
• Wrong occupancy limits — the maximum occupancy figure on the licence (and the register) determines how many people can legally live in the property. If the register shows a lower number than you expect, contact the council to request a variation.
• Missing entry after grant — administrative delays can mean a granted licence does not appear on the public-facing register for several weeks. If a tenant queries your licensing status during this gap, your grant letter and Part B payment receipt are your evidence.

Pending Applications and the Register

A duly-made application does not appear on the public register as a licence. The register only shows granted licences. This creates a visibility gap: a landlord may have a fully valid pending application, but a tenant searching the register will not see it.

If a tenant raises the issue, share a copy of your MetaStreet submission confirmation and Part A payment receipt. These prove the application is duly made and that you have legal protection while the council processes it.

Using the Register When Buying a Property

Prospective buyers can search the register to check whether a property they are considering has an existing licence. This matters because property licences are non-transferable — when a property is sold, the existing licence terminates and the new owner must apply for a new one.

If the property appears on the register with the current owner as licence holder, the licence will end at completion. Factor the cost and timeline of a new application into your purchase planning.

For the full guide to Lewisham's licensing schemes, the application process and ongoing compliance, the Lewisham Landlord Licensing Guide covers everything from address verification through to licence renewal.

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