How Long Does a Redbridge Landlord Licence Last?

The Standard Five-Year Licence

A property licence issued by Redbridge Council is valid for up to five years from the date of determination. This applies to selective licences, additional HMO licences, and mandatory HMO licences. The five-year term is the maximum — the council can and does issue shorter terms in certain situations.

The licence attaches to a specific person for a specific property. It cannot be transferred to a new owner, a new managing agent acting as licence holder, or a different property. If the property is sold or the licence holder changes, the existing licence terminates and a new application must be submitted with full Part A and Part B fees.

When You Get a One-Year Licence Instead

Redbridge issues shortened one-year licences in three main situations:

Unpermitted HMOs established after 6 December 2019. Redbridge brought a borough-wide Article 4 Direction into force on that date, removing permitted development rights for converting a dwelling (C3) into a small HMO (C4). If your property became an HMO after that date without planning permission, the council issues a one-year conditional licence. You have those 12 months to secure planning approval or get written confirmation from the planning authority that enforcement will not be taken. If the planning issue is resolved at renewal, a standard five-year licence follows.

Large HMOs without Sui Generis planning permission. Properties operating as large HMOs (seven or more occupants) for less than ten years without explicit Sui Generis planning consent receive the same one-year treatment.

Fit and proper or management concerns. Where the council has reservations about the licence holder's compliance history or the property's management standards, it may issue a shorter licence with additional monitoring conditions.

What Happens When a Licence Approaches Expiry

Redbridge Council recommends submitting a renewal application online at least one month before the expiry date printed on the existing licence. If you submit the renewal before the licence expires, the existing licence remains in force under Section 283 of the Housing Act 2004 until the council decides the renewal application.

If the licence expires and no renewal is pending, the property becomes unlicensed immediately. From that point you are exposed to the same enforcement consequences as any other unlicensed landlord — civil penalties up to £30,000 and Rent Repayment Orders of up to 24 months' rent for qualifying offences committed on or after 1 May 2026.

Licence Duration vs Scheme Duration

There is an important distinction between how long your individual licence lasts and how long the underlying scheme runs. Selective Licensing Scheme 3 (Ilford Town and Valentines) started on 1 November 2023 and runs for five years. Scheme 4 (15 wards) started on 8 April 2024, also for five years. A licence granted partway through a scheme can outlast the scheme itself — the licence term is counted from the date of determination, not the scheme commencement date.

If a scheme expires and the council does not renew it, properties that held a selective licence in that ward would no longer need one for single-household lets (though HMO licensing, being borough-wide or national, would still apply separately).

Keeping Track

The licence document itself states the expiry date and any special conditions. During the five-year term, you must notify the council within 28 days of any material change — ownership transfers, management changes, structural alterations, or occupancy changes. Failure to notify can lead to licence revocation.

The Redbridge Landlord Licensing Guide includes a renewal calendar and condition tracker to help you manage the full licence term and submit your renewal on time.

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