Landlord Licensing in Blackpool

Reviewed by Bradley Askew, Solicitor (non-practising), England & Wales. Reviewed 3 August 2026.

Blackpool Council runs a selective licensing scheme across its inner-area wards. It does not currently run an additional HMO licensing scheme — only mandatory HMO licensing applies to smaller HMOs outside the selective area. This guide sets out what's currently designated, what it costs, and what you risk by letting unlicensed — sourced directly from Blackpool's own published pages, not secondary summaries, because these schemes change frequently.

Current schemes at a glance

Scheme	Coverage	Dates	Fee
Selective licensing	Bloomfield, Brunswick, Claremont, Talbot, Tyldesley, Warbreck, Waterloo and Victoria wards (the "Inner Area", around 11,000 privately rented properties).	1 April 2025 – 31 March 2030	£772

Schemes change — wards get added, fees rise annually, and designations lapse or get renewed. Always check the council's own page (linked below) for the current position before applying or relying on a fee figure.

Scheme detail

Selective licensing

Coverage. Bloomfield, Brunswick, Claremont, Talbot, Tyldesley, Warbreck, Waterloo and Victoria wards (the "Inner Area", around 11,000 privately rented properties).

Dates. In force from 1 April 2025. Runs until 31 March 2030. Secretary of State approval was given in November 2024; the landlord application deadline was 1 October 2025.

Fee. £772 standard fee for a single dwelling over the 5-year term (Part 1 £354 + Part 2 £418), plus £95 per additional unit for multi-unit properties. Discounts: £200 (dwelling) / £20 (unit) for meeting the "Blackpool Standard"; £100 (dwelling) / £20 (unit) for an EPC rating of A, B or C without meeting the full Standard.

• Annual gas safety certificates, electrical safety declarations, and working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
• Written tenancy agreements and at least 24 hours' notice before routine inspections
• Landlord contact details must be given to tenants, and tenant references retained
• The "Blackpool Standard" adds documented repair procedures and a requirement that kitchens and bathrooms are no more than 20 years old

Apply for this licence →

What happens if you let unlicensed

Operating a licensable property without the required licence is a criminal offence. For an HMO, that's section 72 of the Housing Act 2004; for a selective-licensing property, it's section 95. Both carry an unlimited fine on conviction, or a civil penalty of up to £40,000 as an alternative to prosecution, under section 249A of the Housing Act 2004 (raised from £30,000 with effect from 1 May 2026).

On top of a civil penalty, a tenant or the local authority can apply to the First-tier Tribunal for a rent repayment order — for offences committed on or after 1 May 2026, this can require repayment of up to 24 months' rent, under the Housing and Planning Act 2016 (Part 2, Chapter 4) as amended by the Renters' Rights Act 2025. A civil penalty and a rent repayment order can both be awarded for the same unlicensed period, so the combined exposure for a persistently unlicensed property can run well into six figures. See our full rent repayment orders guide for how the tribunal process works and how to defend against an application.

An unlicensed HMO or selective-licensing property can also affect a landlord's enforcement position, and the council can apply for a management order over a persistently unlicensed property, taking day-to-day control away from the landlord.

Common mistakes

• Assuming a licence from a different scheme covers you. Mandatory HMO licensing, additional HMO licensing and selective licensing are three separate legal regimes — a property can need more than one, or a licence under one scheme doesn't excuse a requirement under another.
• Letting a licence lapse. Renewal isn't automatic; operating on an expired licence is treated the same as never having had one.
• Assuming a designation still applies without checking. These schemes are frequently renewed, expanded, or allowed to lapse — always check the council's current page rather than relying on older news coverage or a previous tenancy's paperwork.
• Missing a scheme because a property is just outside the mandatory HMO threshold. Additional and selective licensing exist precisely to bring smaller HMOs and ordinary lettings into scope.

Get help

• Blackpool's own private housing or licensing team — for an address-specific check, an application, or to confirm a scheme's current status: Blackpool Council — Housing licences (scheme index), Blackpool Council — Inner Area selective licence conditions, Blackpool Council — Housing licence fees.
• GOV.UK — HMO licence guidance and selective licensing guidance for local authorities for the primary legal framework.

This is legal information, not legal advice. It explains the position for Blackpool as at 3 August 2026 in general terms and does not take account of your specific circumstances; reading it does not create a solicitor–client relationship. Tenancy Agreement Service is not a law firm and is not regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Licensing schemes change frequently — always confirm current designation, dates and fees directly with the council before applying. If you're facing a licensing dispute, a civil penalty notice, or a rent repayment order application, get advice from a regulated solicitor before responding.