Vet London Landlords with Open Data: Licences, Cladding & Fines

January 2026 practical guide for renters — how to use open datasets (council licence registers, EPC and Land Registry records, MHCLG/DLUHC and London Fire Brigade remediation lists, and FOI responses) to check a landlord’s compliance, safety history and enforcement actions.

Excerpt

This guide shows London renters how to run step‑by‑step checks using free public datasets — council licence registers, the EPC and Land Registry, MHCLG/DLUHC and London Fire Brigade remediation lists and FOI records — to spot cladding risk, unlicensed lets and repeat fines. It explains how to interpret red flags and what to do if you find problems.

Why this matters (short)

Renting in London often means living in buildings with complex legal and safety histories. Since Grenfell there’s more public data available — but it’s scattered across websites and documents. Knowing how to query the right datasets and how to interpret what you find helps you avoid unsafe or non‑compliant lets, and gives you clear next steps if a landlord has enforcement action against them.

What datasets to use (quick map)

• Council landlord‑licence registers and HMO registers (selective licensing / HMO licensing)
• EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) register
• Land Registry title and ownership checks; Companies House records for corporate landlords
• MHCLG/DLUHC and London Fire Brigade remediation or higher‑risk building lists (post‑Grenfell publications)
• Council enforcement & civil penalty registers
• FOI (Freedom of Information) requests and published FOI responses

Step‑by‑step searches

Below is a practical workflow. You can do these checks from the day you see an advert up to after you move in.

1. Start with the basic facts: full address and council

What you need: the full postal address (including flat/level if relevant) and the borough (use the postcode to confirm). If the listing only shows a postcode or vague area, ask the agent/landlord for the exact address. Knowing the borough is essential because licensing and enforcement data is held by the local council.

How to confirm the borough: use a postcode lookup (e.g., the council’s site or Royal Mail). Many councils have a “which ward / which council” postcode tool.

Why: licensing and building safety enforcement is carried out by the local authority — so you’ll search that council’s register.

2. Check council landlord licensing and HMO registers

What to look for: whether the property requires and holds a licence (HMO licences, selective licences, additional licensing), licence number, licence holder name, licence expiry date, and any special conditions.

How to search:

• Go to the borough’s website and search for "HMO register", "landlord licensing register" or "selective licensing".
• Many boroughs offer a searchable CSV/online register. If the register is a PDF, use Ctrl+F for the address or licence number.

What to interpret:

• No listing when the property appears to meet licensing criteria → RED FLAG (unlicensed let).
• Licence holder name differs from the name on your tenancy agreement → investigate (the landlord may be a management company).
• Licence expired or suspended → RED FLAG; contact the council’s private sector housing team.

Practical tip: Keep a screenshot of the register entry and copy the licence number into your records.

3. Check the EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) register

What the EPC can show:

• Whether an EPC exists and when it was lodged
• Energy rating (A–G) — private rented properties must meet a minimum rating (E as of earlier MEES rules, but check current legislation)
• The assessor’s details (useful if identity needs confirming)

How to search: use the UK government EPC register: https://www.gov.uk/find-energy-certificate — enter the address and save the certificate PDF.

What to interpret:

• No recent EPC or a rating below statutory minimum → RED FLAG (possible non‑compliance with Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards).
• EPC lists a landlord name that doesn’t match the tenancy paperwork → investigate further.

Note: An EPC is not a safety certificate, but a missing or very low EPC often signals a landlord who doesn’t keep records up to date.

4. Land Registry and Companies House: who really owns the building?

Why check ownership: knowing whether a property is owned by an individual, company or an offshore entity helps trace the responsible party and can reveal patterns (same owner across problem properties).

How to search Land Registry:

• Use the Land Registry search by address on gov.uk. There is a small fee for full title registers and title plans (typically a few pounds per search).
• The free Price Paid dataset can show recent transactions by postcode.

How to use Companies House:

• If the Land Registry shows a corporate owner, copy the company number and search Companies House (free) to see directors, filing history and related addresses.

Interpretation:

• Multiple poor‑quality lets owned by the same company or name in Land Registry → RED FLAG (repeat offender).
• Owner addresses that don’t match management details on tenancy paperwork → note for questions.

5. Check MHCLG/DLUHC and London Fire Brigade remediation / higher‑risk lists

Context: after Grenfell the government and London Fire Brigade produced data and guidance about buildings that may require remediation of unsafe external wall systems. Local authorities also publish remediation progress and remediation status for blocks in their area.

Where to look:

• DLUHC (formerly MHCLG) published datasets and guidance relating to higher‑risk buildings and remediation programmes — search for "DLUHC remediation list" or "building safety" on gov.uk.
• London Fire Brigade and some boroughs publish building safety or remediation lists — search your borough website for "cladding remediation", "external wall remediation" or "building safety remediation".

What to interpret:

• Property appears on a remediation list or the building is classed as "in scope" for external wall remediation → MAJOR RED FLAG for high‑rise buildings. Check whether remediation has been funded, started, or if the building is being managed with interim fire safety measures.
• Look for notes on who is funding remediation (developer, freeholder, government fund, or leaseholder contributions) — this affects leaseholders but can affect tenants too (fire safety arrangements, temporary evacuations).

Practical note: many remediation lists and statuses are complex — if you find any evidence the building is in scope, escalate to the council building safety or private housing team and request written confirmation of the building’s status.

6. Search council enforcement registers and civil penalties

What to expect: councils publish enforcement action such as civil penalties, prosecutions and licence revocations. These registers show the reason for enforcement and the amount.

How to search:

• Look for "civil penalties" or "private sector housing enforcement" on your borough’s website.
• Some councils publish an enforcement news page or csv feed that you can search by landlord name or address.

Interpretation:

• Repeated entries against the same landlord → RED FLAG (repeat fines or prosecutions).
• Enforcement relating to safety issues (e.g., gas safety, fire escape) or reckless management → immediate concern.

7. Use FOI for deeper digging (when public pages are limited)

When to use FOI: if the council’s public pages don’t show the full enforcement history, you can request records under the Freedom of Information Act (FOI). Councils often publish FOI responses that include lists of complaints, enforcement notices, licence revocations and fines.

How to file a focused FOI request (sample wording):

"FOI request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000: please provide all records held by [Council Name] relating to enforcement action or complaints concerning [full property address] (including HMO/selective licence applications, refusals, enforcement notices, civil penalties, prosecutions and building safety notices) for the period 2016–2026. If possible, provide dates, reasons and outcomes for each entry."

Practical tips:

• Keep requests narrow (single address or single landlord) to speed up response time.
• Councils must respond within 20 working days (subject to exemptions).
• If refused on the basis of third‑party data, ask for redacted versions or a summary of actions.

How to interpret red flags — quick checklist

Red flags (what to watch for and what each means):

• No licence on the council register but property appears to be an HMO or within a selective licensing area → likely unlawful letting and actionable by the council.
• Licence expired, suspended or revoked → landlord may be operating illegally.
• Repeated civil penalties/prosecutions listed against the same owner → pattern of non‑compliance.
• Property or building on remediation/higher‑risk list → potential fire safety / cladding risk requiring urgent clarification.
• EPC missing or below legal minimum → potential MEES breach and poorer living conditions.
• Land Registry owner is a corporate entity with multiple poor records → likely a portfolio landlord — look for repeat offences.

Each red flag has different practical consequences. Unlicensed HMOs can be closed or fined; cladding issues may lead to building works, temporary fire safety measures or even evacuation; repeated enforcement indicates a landlord who may be slow to remedy defects.

Realistic example formats (how council entries typically look)

Below are anonymised examples of the kind of public entries you’ll see — use these formats when searching so you recognise relevant records:

• Licence register entry: "Licence no. HMO/2024/123 — 1st Floor Flat, 25 Example Road — Licence holder: ACME Rentals Ltd — Expires: 31/08/2026 — Conditions: max 6 occupants; smoke/CO tests annual."
• Enforcement register entry: "Civil Penalty issued 15/02/2025 — Landlord: Jane Smith — Property: 12 Example Crescent — Reason: Failure to hold HMO licence — Penalty: £10,000 — Paid/Appeal pending."
• Remediation list entry: "Block Name: Example Tower — Address: Example Lane, E1xxx — Status: In scope — External wall material: Aluminium composite material (ACM) — Remediation: Funding under review — Interim fire safety measures in place."

Seeing entries like these against your address is actionable — save screenshots and dates.

What to do if you find problems (clear next steps)

1. Document everything: save screenshots, download PDFs (licence, EPC), keep emails and adverts, and note dates and times.
2. Contact the landlord/agent in writing: reference what you found (attach screenshots) and ask for clarification and a timescale for remedy. Keep all correspondence.

Sample message (concise):

"I’m writing about [address]. I have checked the [Council Name] HMO/landlord register and could not find a current licence (or found enforcement action). Please confirm in writing whether you hold a valid licence and provide the licence number and evidence."

3. If the landlord does not respond or gives an unsatisfactory answer, contact the council’s private sector housing/Environmental Health team. Provide them with your evidence and request an investigation or enforcement.
4. If the issue is building safety/cladding, escalate to the council’s building safety team and notify the London Fire Brigade’s local prevention team if you believe there is imminent risk. Ask the council for written confirmation of the building’s remediation status.
5. Get advice: contact Shelter, Citizens Advice or a housing solicitor — particularly if the issue affects safety, or if the landlord is trying to evict you in retaliation.
6. Do not withhold rent without legal advice: tenants should not unilaterally withhold rent — instead, use formal complaint routes, reporting to the council and seeking legal help if necessary.
7. Consider formal complaints and legal action: if a landlord is in serious breach (unlicensed HMO, repeated failures to meet safety requirements), councils can prosecute or issue large civil penalties. Your evidence and complaints can prompt council enforcement.

Using FOI to hold councils and landlords to account

If public pages are thin, FOI is a powerful tool: request enforcement histories for a property or a landlord company across multiple boroughs (if the company operates widely). Ask for details of enforcement notices, follow‑up inspections and outcomes.

Recordkeeping tip: when the council receives a complaint about a property they usually create a case reference. Ask for that reference in communications — it helps you track progress.

Protect yourself while you look

• Check adverts and agents against the advice in our piece on rental scams to avoid fraud: Shield Yourself from Rental Scams in London: AI-Age Safety.
• Be mindful of privacy: when you assemble data on landlords and properties, don’t publish personal data online — see related guidance in Privacy & AI Checks When Renting in London: A Renter's Guide.
• If you’re weighing neighbourhood trade‑offs, our guide to where young professionals live may help you judge local enforcement and building stock: Top 10 Areas for Young Professionals in London 2025.

Practical checklist before you sign

• Confirm landlord name matches licence and EPC where required.
• Check HMO/selective licence status and expiry date on the council register.
• Download the EPC certificate and note the rating and lodgement date.
• Run a Land Registry title check (small fee) to confirm the registered owner.
• Search council enforcement registers for the landlord or address.
• Search DLUHC/MHCLG and LFB remediation lists if the building is multi‑storey.
• Keep a timeline and save evidence.

Final notes and realistic expectations

Open data gives renters a lot of power, but it isn’t always tidy. Not every problem will be obvious from a single search, and some remediation or enforcement cases are ongoing and complicated. Use the datasets together: a missing licence on the council register plus a low EPC and a Land Registry owner with multiple enforcement entries is a far stronger indicator of risk than any single dataset.

When you find worrying entries, act promptly: document, ask the landlord for proof and alert the council. Councils have statutory powers to act and often rely on tenant complaints to trigger enforcement. If safety is at risk, escalate immediately and seek help from specialist housing charities or legal advisers.

Open data is a tool — used early and methodically it reduces surprises and helps you make safer rental choices in London.

If you want, I can provide a ready‑to‑use FOI template tailored to your borough and an editable checklist you can print before viewings.