Check if you need a licence
Enfield's selective licensing scheme started on 1 September 2026. Selective licensing applies to all privately rented residential properties occupied by 1 or 2 persons, or 1 family households located in these 17 wards (areas) across the borough:
Designation 1:
- Bowes
- Brimsdown
- Bullsmoor
- Carterhatch
- Edmonton Green
- Enfield Lock
- Haselbury
- Jubilee
- Lower Edmonton
- Ponders End
- Southbury
- Upper Edmonton
- Whitewebbs
Designation 2:
- New Southgate
- Palmers Green
- Southgate
- Town
Landlords must apply for a licence for each property they rent out in these wards.
Scroll down to the map at the bottom of this page. To find out if your property needs to be licensed under the selective licensing scheme:
- insert the property postcode or address in the search bar and click on the submit button
- click the drop down arrow on the search bar to find and select the relevant address from the list
- look for the house icon – it will appear on the map
- zoom in to the maximum possible using the + button top left corner of the map
- click on the house icon to reveal the licensing information
For enquiries, email prsh@enfield.gov.uk with the full property address and we will confirm if a selective licence is required.
To check if your property requires a selective licence, see what is selective licensing?
What is selective licensing?
Selective licensing applies to properties that are let to 1 or 2 people, or 1 family households.
Where there are multiple rented flats in the same block or building that are owned and managed by the same person, the building may qualify for a single selective licence. Usually each separate flat in a building will need its own individual licence.
For buildings that qualify for a single selective licence, a reduced fee may apply. The Part 1 fee will be payable at the full rate for the first flat. It will then be reduced by £100 for each additional flat within the building. The Part 2 fee is the full fee for all flats.
Individual licences are of benefit to landlords if they want to make physical alterations to, sell or change a managing agent for one of the flats. They can do so without affecting the licences of all the other flats in the block.
A single licence for the entire block in any of these events will require a variation of the licence or even a new application.
If you want to apply for a single selective licence for the entire block of flats under the same ownership and management control, you should contact us for further advice before making an application.
Information required
Before applying for a licence, you will need the following information to complete your application:
- Details of the licence holder, including name, address and date of birth
- Room sizes in square metres
- Details about the property structure, and location of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
- Name and addresses of all people and organisations with an interest in the property (such as freeholders, leaseholders, managing agents and mortgage provider)
- Documents (gas safety certificate, electrical installation condition report, energy performance certificate and tenancy or licence agreement)
- Payment card details
Fit and proper person
For a landlord, letting or management agent to be given a private rented property licence, they will need to prove they are a 'fit and proper' person. This will involve making a declaration to confirm their status about any criminal offences.
Failure to meet the fit and proper person test may result in an application for a licence being refused.
In deciding whether someone is fit and proper, we must consider:
- any offences involving fraud or other dishonesty, violence, drugs, or any offence listed in Schedule 3 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003
- any unlawful discrimination on grounds of sex, colour, race, ethnic or national origins, or disability
- any contravention of the law relating to housing or landlord and tenant law
- whether the person has a 'banning order' in force under section 16 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016
- if any person involved in the management of the property has a sufficient level of competence to be involved
We may also decide a person is not fit and proper due to association with other persons not considered fit and proper, and where this would affect the management of a licensed property. The proposed licence holder and managing agent, if applicable, must also be able to prove that satisfactory management and financial arrangements are in place for the property.
Applications from letting or managing agents, and non-UK residents
Who can make a licence application
You can apply for a property licence if you're the property owner, the manager employed by the owner, or the person in receipt of the rent.
Proposed licence holder
The licence holder should have the power to:
- let and terminate tenancies
- access all parts of the premises (same as the owner)
- authorise repairs or maintenance
If the property is managed by someone other than the licence holder, such as a letting or managing agent, the licence holder should make sure:
- the agent is fully aware and compliant with the licence conditions
- there are satisfactory management arrangements and a signed declaration in place
- the agent is a member of a redress scheme
A copy of the contract between the owner and the agent must be provided. This must include a declaration that the agent is fully aware and compliant with the licence conditions and there are satisfactory management arrangements in place.
Non-UK applicants
Applications for a property licence from a non-UK resident will only be considered valid if there is a managing agent based in the UK. The managing agent must agree to the conditions and obligations imposed in the licence conditions by signing a declaration.
Limited company application
Applications from a limited company need to provide:
- a full company name
- a registered address
- a registration number
- a name of the person who can be contacted about the licence
Applications will only be accepted from companies with a UK registered office.
Apply for a licence
If your property is in one of the selective licensing designation wards, you will need to make an application for a licence. If you need to check which ward your property falls within, see our borough and ward profiles page.
For guidance on the application process and how to apply for a licence, view the property licensing application process (PDF, 849.5 KB).
You can make multiple licence applications, pay the licence fee and provide the necessary documentation. You will need to create a new user account before you can make a licence application.
Processing your application
We aim to process your application within 60 working days. If there is any information missing or more details are needed, we will contact you. It's important the email address and contact numbers you provide in your application are correct and up to date.
Due to a high volume of applications, we may not always be able to determine your application within 60 working days. If you have an urgent query, please contact us at prsh@enfield.gov.uk.
Tacit consent does not apply to applications made for a property licence. We must process and approve your application before you are granted a licence.
Selective licence fees
The fee for a selective licence is £750 and payable in 2 parts:
- Part 1 is £450 – due when the application is made and is non-refundable
- Part 2 is £300 – payable when the draft licence is issued and automatically collected using the payment details created with the application
If your property is already licensed as a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) under Enfield's mandatory or additional HMO licensing schemes, you do not need to apply for a selective licence. Each property is only subject to one type of residential licensing scheme.
A licence is usually for a period of 5 years from the date that it is issued. The council may issue a licence for a shorter period, subject to additional conditions if there are concerns about the management arrangements or standards.
Licence fee discounts
Discounts may be applied for landlord accreditation or membership, Energy Performance Certification (C or above) or to multi-dwelling properties. In all cases, they will be determined on receipt of a complete application and provided that up-to-date certification is submitted. Discounts will not be applicable where the council has:
- made 2 requests for additional supporting documents, or
- served a warning letter for failure to license the property
Discounts cannot be considered once a licence application has been determined and a licence granted.
Accredited landlord or member discount
If you are accredited under one of the following schemes, you may be entitled to a £50 discount (from Part 2 payment):
- London Landlord Accreditation Scheme (LLAS)
- National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA)
- UK Association of Letting Agents (UKALA)
- British Landlords Association (BLA)
If you are a member of one of the following schemes, you may be entitled to a £50 discount (from Part 2 payment):
- Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA Propertymark)
- Safeagent
Managing and Letting Agents who are accredited but are not the licence holder are not eligible for the Accredited Landlords' Discount when making an application on the licence holder's behalf.
Multi-dwelling discount
A multi-dwelling discount of £100 is applicable where there are multiple rented flats in the same building that are owned and managed by the same person. The discount does not apply to the first rented flat but to each additional flat within the building.
Please note, accredited landlords may also apply for a multi-dwelling discount where applicable. Where this is the case, only one Accredited Landlord discount will be applied.
Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) discount
An EPC discount of £100 is applicable where properties have an EPC rating of C or above. Accredited landlords who qualify for a multi-dwelling discount may also apply for an EPC discount where applicable. Where this is the case, only one Accredited Landlord and/or one EPC discount will be applied.
Exemptions
Some tenancies and licences are exempt. These can be found under The Selective Licensing of Houses (Specified Exemptions) (England) Order 2006.
Variation of a selective licence
You will need to use the property licensing website to make changes to an existing licence. This may include:
- a change in the property agent or company managing the property
- a change of address for the landlord
- a change of household or occupancy levels in the property
If your private rented property falls within the designated area for selective licensing and you think it is exempt from the requirement of property licensing, you will need to apply for a temporary exemption notice.
If you are unsure if your property is exempt or requires a temporary exemption notice, contact the private rented sector licensing team by emailing prsh@enfield.gov.uk.
Property licence public register
We are legally required to keep a public register of properties licensed under the Housing Act 2004.
You can view licences issued through Enfield's property licensing schemes on our online public register. Please note that the register is updated when a final licence is issued. Applications that are still being reviewed will not appear on the register.
If you would like to see the full register, you can make an appointment to view it at our offices during normal opening hours, or request a certified copy of the register for a fee of £182. To arrange an appointment, email prsh@enfield.gov.uk.
If you believe a property should be on the register but is not listed, please report it by emailing prsh@enfield.gov.uk.