East Staffordshire Council Is Moving To Data-Led Enforcement
Property Licensing Guide for East Staffordshire
East Staffordshire currently operates selective licensing in 3 wards; mandatory HMO licensing applies everywhere. A new selective licensing designation launches on 1 January 2027. Last checked: 20 October 2026.
This free guide will provide you with the key details regarding what licensing requirements are necessary in this area and how to apply for a licence.
New to this? Read our overview: What is selective licensing?
East Staffordshire is in the West Midlands registration window for the PRS database, which opens on 15 December 2026: see PRS database registration in the West Midlands.
East Staffordshire Property Licensing Schemes
To check whether an East Staffordshire property falls in a selective licensing area, use the council’s selective licensing webpage, which shows the designated area. To check whether a property needs a licence at all, use the checker below.
Not sure whether an East Staffordshire property needs a licence? Kamma's free checker covers selective, additional and HMO schemes.
Check an East Staffordshire property →What are the licensing requirements for East Staffordshire?
Mandatory licensing in East Staffordshire
Mandatory HMO licensing applies across East Staffordshire (and all of England) to larger HMOs. These are properties occupied by five or more people forming more than one household, including:
- Shared houses and flats occupied by students and young professionals.
- Properties converted into bedsits with some shared facilities.
- Properties converted into a mix of self-contained and non-self-contained accommodation.
Do I need an additional property licence in East Staffordshire?
Additional licensing requires smaller HMOs in a designated area to be licensed. That means a privately rented property with three or more people forming more than one household.
East Staffordshire does not currently operate an additional HMO licensing scheme; larger HMOs are covered by the national mandatory HMO scheme.
Do I need a selective licence in East Staffordshire?
Selective licensing requires almost all privately rented properties in a designated area to be licensed, regardless of the number of occupants.
East Staffordshire operates selective licensing. The current designation is set out below.
East Staffordshire ran a consultation on selective licensing, which closed on 3 April 2026. The council has since approved a second selective scheme covering 16 streets in Burton upon Trent, from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2031.
Selective licensing: 12 September 2022 to 11 September 2027, covering Anglesey, Burton & Eton and Shobnall.
Mandatory HMO licensing: in force since 2006 for HMOs of five or more people forming more than one household.
How do I apply for a licence?
You can apply for a licence via East Staffordshire Council’s website here. Or let Kamma’s expert team process the application for you.
How much does a licence cost?
Licence fees: see East Staffordshire Council’s property licensing fees page for current selective, additional and mandatory HMO fees.
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East Staffordshire Property Licensing FAQs
What licensing schemes does East Staffordshire operate?
East Staffordshire Borough Council operates selective licensing in Burton upon Trent from 12 September 2022 to 11 September 2027. A second selective scheme runs from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2031. Mandatory HMO licensing applies to HMOs of five or more people. The council does not operate additional HMO licensing.
Do all properties in East Staffordshire need a licence?
Not every East Staffordshire property needs a licence. Selective licensing applies only inside the designated Burton upon Trent area, and the council’s webpage shows it. Elsewhere in East Staffordshire, only HMOs of five or more people in two or more households need a mandatory HMO licence.
What if my property doesn't have a licence?
An East Staffordshire property that needs a licence and has none risks civil penalties of up to £40,000 per property for offences on or after 1 May 2026. The landlord also risks a rent repayment order of up to 24 months’ rent. A letting agent who manages the property or collects the rent commits the offence too and can be fined separately.
Can letting agents apply on behalf of landlords?
Yes. Letting agents can apply for East Staffordshire property licences on behalf of landlords, and many manage the full process. The council’s application form is completed and submitted with supporting documents, and the council invoices separately.
How do I apply for a East Staffordshire property licence?
To apply for an East Staffordshire selective licence, download and complete the form on the council’s selective licensing page and send it with supporting documents. The council sends an invoice separately, so do not send a cheque. Kamma can also manage the application.
Why did East Staffordshire introduce selective licensing?
East Staffordshire Borough Council says its selective licensing schemes in Burton upon Trent aim to improve housing conditions and management standards in areas with many poorly managed and maintained privately rented homes.
Does East Staffordshire have additional HMO licensing?
No. East Staffordshire does not operate additional HMO licensing. HMOs with five or more occupants in two or more households need a mandatory HMO licence, which applies nationally. Fees on the council’s HMO licence page run from £1,110 for 1 to 5 bedrooms to £1,613 for 11 or more.
What are the conditions to obtain an HMO licence in East Staffordshire?
East Staffordshire Borough Council’s standard HMO licence conditions include an annual gas safety certificate, safe electrical appliances and installations, an automatic fire detection system, compliant furniture and tenancy agreements. The full set is in the council’s HMO policy document.
About East Staffordshire
East Staffordshire Borough Council runs selective licensing in Burton upon Trent. The current scheme runs from 12 September 2022 to 11 September 2027. A second scheme covers 16 designated Burton streets, about 1,100 privately rented homes. It starts on 1 January 2027 and ends on 31 December 2031.
The council says the aim is to improve housing conditions and management standards where privately rented homes are poorly managed and maintained. It does not operate additional HMO licensing.
Licensing Enforcement in East Staffordshire
In February 2024 the council reported that it had won an appeal to enforce a £3,673 financial penalty notice. The notice was served in July 2023 on a landlord who let a property on Queen Street, Burton, without a selective licence.
Civil penalties for licensing offences on or after 1 May 2026 can reach £40,000. A rent repayment order can be up to 24 months’ rent. Where a letting agent manages the property or collects the rent, the agent commits the offence too and can be fined in its own right.
