Hackney Council has approved new rules meaning most landlords in the borough will need a licence for each property from May 2026.
The move is aimed at raising standards for renters and tackling rogue landlords.
Landlords will pay £925 for a single home licence and £1,400 for a house in multiple occupation (HMO).
The council said the scheme will cover the costs of administration, inspections and monitoring.
Almost all private rented homes in 17 of Hackney’s 21 wards will be included, with the remaining four wards covered by additional licensing.
All HMOs with three or more people from two or more households will need a licence.
Caroline Woodley, Mayor of Hackney, said: “Everyone in Hackney deserves a good, safe and secure home, and we know more must be done to make that a reality.
“Most landlords do the right thing, but too many renters face unacceptable conditions and poor property management.
“These conditions don’t just harm individual tenants, they also contribute to wider issues in Hackney – from disrepair to antisocial behaviour.”
Woodley added: “We’ll use every tool we have to enforce against landlords who don’t play by these new rules and focus on building up a network of responsible landlords in the borough.”
Sem Moema, Deputy Cabinet Member for Private Renting and Housing Affordability, said: “We’ve long campaigned for changes to the private rented sector, including a ban on section 21 no fault evictions.
“This new licensing scheme alongside the introduction of the Renters’ Rights Act is a big step in ensuring that we can raise standards for people in privately rented homes, support responsible landlords and help our residents have safe and well managed homes.”
