Newham Property Licensing Public Register Explained

Newham Council maintains a publicly searchable register of every property that holds an active licence in the borough. Whether you're a tenant checking your landlord's compliance, a prospective buyer reviewing a property's status, or a landlord confirming your own licence details, the register is the official source.

What the Public Register Shows

Under Section 69 (for HMO licences) and Section 91 (for selective licences) of the Housing Act 2004, local authorities must keep a public register of all licences they grant. Newham's register includes:

• The licensed property address
• The licence holder's name
• Managing agent details (where applicable)
• Licence start and expiry dates
• The maximum permitted number of occupants and households

The register is available through the council's website and can be searched by address or postcode.

What a Missing Entry Means

A property that does not appear on the register could be in one of several states:

• Unlicensed. The landlord has not applied, or the application was refused.
• Pending. An application has been submitted and is being processed, but the licence has not yet been issued.
• Exempt. The property falls under a statutory exemption (social housing, resident landlord with up to two lodgers, or a property in Royal Victoria or Stratford Olympic Park ward that doesn't meet HMO thresholds).

A missing register entry is not proof that no application was submitted. There's a processing gap between application and issuance — during which the landlord has a statutory defence against prosecution if the application was duly made.

For Tenants: Why This Matters

If you're renting in Newham and your property doesn't appear on the register, and your landlord cannot show you a submission receipt or pending application reference, they may be operating unlicensed. That has two consequences:

1. You can report the property to Newham Council's Private Sector Housing Standards team, which may trigger enforcement action.
2. You may have grounds for a Rent Repayment Order, claiming back up to 24 months of rent through the First-tier Tribunal.

The National PRS Database: What's Coming

The public register is a local Newham system. Separately, the Renters' Rights Act 2025 introduces a national Private Rented Sector (PRS) Database. Registration opens regionally starting 15 December 2026 (beginning in the West Midlands) and rolls out across England through 14 November 2027. The annual fee is £65 per property.

The PRS Database is a separate obligation from the Newham property licence. Landlords will eventually need to be registered on the national database and hold any locally required property licence. The two systems don't replace each other.

For Landlords: Checking Your Own Entry

After your licence is issued, verify your property appears on the register with the correct details. Errors in the registered licence holder name, managing agent, or permitted occupancy numbers should be reported to [email protected]. Certain changes — like a new managing agent — can be updated through a free variation request. A change of licence holder requires a fresh application and full fee.

Our Newham landlord licensing guide covers the full application process, variation procedures, and how the new PRS Database interacts with existing borough-level licensing.

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