DIY InventoryLetting a property in Hackney: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Hackney.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Hackney
- Selective licensing: Selective licensing came into force on 1 May 2026 and runs until 30 April 2031. It covers privately rented homes in 17 of Hackney's 21 wards, about three-quarters of the borough's private rented homes.
- Additional HMO licensing: Additional HMO licensing also started on 1 May 2026, for shared homes with three or more people from two or more households. The consultation described it as borough-wide, while the council's later news release says it covers the four wards left out of selective licensing; check the address with the council.
- Fees: £925 for a selective licence and £1,400 for an additional HMO licence, each paid in two parts (2026)
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Hackney Council.
Hackney Council: private renting and licensing
Safety certificates
- Gas Safety (CP12): every 12 months, by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
- EICR: at least every 5 years, by a qualified electrician.
- EPC: rated E or above, valid for 10 years.
- Alarms: a smoke alarm on every storey, and a carbon monoxide alarm in rooms with a fixed combustion appliance (not gas cookers).
Book a Gas Safety certificate, EICR or EPC in Hackney at a fixed price, and keep track of expiry dates in the free landlord dashboard.
Deposits and the inventory
Protect the deposit in the DPS, TDS or mydeposits within 30 days. At the end, the scheme decides any dispute on the evidence, above all the check-in compared with the check-out, so the inventory is what protects you.
What to record in Hackney homes
- Victorian terraces converted into flats: photograph the shared hallway and stairs, the fire doors and the meter cupboard, and count the keys for the street door and the flat.
- Flat-shares and HMOs: photograph each bedroom's lock and smoke alarm, the shared kitchen appliances and the fridge and cupboard space given to each tenant.
- Warehouse conversions in Shoreditch and Hackney Wick: photograph exposed brick, concrete floors and large steel-framed windows, where marks and condensation are common.
- Estate flats: note entry-phone and lift working on the day, the fob count and the condition of balconies and bin chutes.
- Older sash windows in Stoke Newington and De Beauvoir: check cords, locks and draughts and photograph any rot on the sills.
Homes sold in Hackney in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Flat or maisonette | 1,134 | £551,873 |
| Terraced | 225 | £1,152,034 |
| Other | 65 | £993,987 |
| Semi-detached | 30 | £1,526,801 |
| Detached | 6 | £1,543,000 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Hackney: questions
Is there selective licensing in Hackney?
Selective licensing came into force on 1 May 2026 and runs until 30 April 2031. It covers privately rented homes in 17 of Hackney's 21 wards, about three-quarters of the borough's private rented homes. Check the council’s page before letting: schemes are renewed and changed every few years.
What certificates does a landlord need in Hackney?
A Gas Safety certificate every 12 months (where there is gas), an electrical safety report (EICR) at least every 5 years, and a valid EPC rated E or above, plus working smoke alarms on every storey and carbon monoxide alarms by fixed combustion appliances.
How long do I have to protect a deposit?
30 days from receiving it, in the DPS, TDS or mydeposits, with the prescribed information given to the tenant in the same 30 days.
Do I need an inventory as a landlord in Hackney?
It isn’t a legal requirement, but without a signed check-in record it is very hard to claim anything from the deposit at the end. With DIY Inventory you can do it yourself for £30, or send your tenant a link to do it.
Neighbouring boroughs
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