What licensing schemes does Burnley operate?

Burnley operates selective licensing (21 July 2022 to 20 July 2027), alongside the national mandatory HMO scheme. See the scheme details above.

Do all properties in Burnley need a licence?

It depends on the scheme and your property. Where selective licensing applies, most privately rented homes need a licence; HMOs fall under mandatory or additional licensing depending on size and occupancy.

What if my property doesn't have a licence?

Operating a property that requires a licence without one can bring civil penalties of up to £40,000 per property. The landlord also risks a rent repayment order of up to 24 months' rent and cannot serve a Section 21 notice. 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 property licences on behalf of landlords in Burnley, and many manage the full process.

How do I apply for a Burnley property licence?

You can apply through Burnley Council's website ( licensing pages ), or use a managed service such as Kamma.

Why did Burnley introduce selective licensing?

Selective licensing is used to improve housing conditions and tackle anti-social behaviour in the private rented sector.

Why did Burnley introduce additional licensing?

Additional HMO licensing addresses overcrowding, disrepair and management standards in smaller HMOs not covered by the national mandatory scheme.

What are the conditions to obtain an HMO licence in Burnley?

The council's HMO licence conditions set standards for fire safety, amenities, room sizes and management ( licence conditions ).

SELECTIVE LICENSING · LIVE

Burnley Property Licensing: Do You Need a Licence?

Burnley operates selective licensing alongside the national mandatory HMO scheme. Most privately rented homes need a licence, and enforcement is rising.

Check your portfolio for risk

Map of property licensing by ward in Burnley. Selective licensing in 11 of the 15 wards applies now. The remaining wards have mandatory HMO licensing only, which applies nationally to larger shared homes.

Selective licensing now

Mandatory HMO licensing only (national scheme)

Part of ward only

Street-level scheme; shading approximate

Burnley Council Is Moving To Data-Led Enforcement

Councils are using data to identify unlicensed properties, and agents who manage them can be fined in their own right

Up to £40k fine per unlicensed property

Rent Repayment Orders up to 24 months

£7,800 average fine for letting agents

Most enforcement activity happens within the first 3–6 months of scheme launch.

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Property Licensing Guide for Burnley

Burnley currently operates selective licensing in 11 wards; mandatory HMO licensing applies everywhere. Last checked: 25 August 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?

Burnley Property Licensing Schemes

Got questions about licensing schemes in Burnley? We’re here to help. This free guide will provide you with the key details regarding what licensing requirements are necessary in Burnley and how to apply for a licence.

Is manual compliance causing a headache for your agency? At Kamma, we specialise in automating licensing compliance for agents across the UK. If you need any assistance in getting your property portfolio compliant, find out how we can help letting agents here.

Not sure whether a Burnley property needs a licence? Kamma's free checker covers selective, additional and HMO schemes.

Check a Burnley property →

What are the licensing requirements for Burnley?

Mandatory licensing in Burnley

Mandatory HMO licensing applies across Burnley (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 Burnley?

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.

Burnley 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 Burnley?

Selective licensing requires almost all privately rented properties in a designated area to be licensed, regardless of the number of occupants.

Burnley operates selective licensing. The current designation is set out below.

Selective licensing: 21 July 2022 to 20 July 2027, covering Bank Hall, Rosehill with Burnley Wood and Trinity.
Selective licensing: 21 July 2022 to 20 July 2027, covering Bank Hall.
Selective licensing: 27 April 2025 to 26 April 2030, covering Bank Hall, Daneshouse with Stoneyholme, Gannow, Gawthorpe, Hapton with Park, Lanehead, Queensgate, Rosegrove with Lowerhouse, Trinity and Whittlefield with Ightenhill.
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 Burnley Council’s website here. Or let Kamma’s expert team process the application for you.

How much does a licence cost?

Licence fees

Licence	Fee
Selective licence	£750 per property
Mandatory HMO licence	£961 (New application (up to 10 rooms); see council page for per-room elements)

Fees as published by the council, verified 20 July 2026; subject to change. See the council’s fee page for full schedules, payment stages and discounts.

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Burnley's licensing schemes are set out below. Check any Burnley address against them.

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Burnley Property Licensing FAQs

What licensing schemes does Burnley operate?
Burnley operates selective licensing (21 July 2022 to 20 July 2027), alongside the national mandatory HMO scheme. See the scheme details above.
Do all properties in Burnley need a licence?
It depends on the scheme and your property. Where selective licensing applies, most privately rented homes need a licence; HMOs fall under mandatory or additional licensing depending on size and occupancy.
What if my property doesn't have a licence?
Operating a property that requires a licence without one can bring civil penalties of up to £40,000 per property. The landlord also risks a rent repayment order of up to 24 months’ rent and cannot serve a Section 21 notice. 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 property licences on behalf of landlords in Burnley, and many manage the full process.
How do I apply for a Burnley property licence?
You can apply through Burnley Council’s website (licensing pages), or use a managed service such as Kamma.
Why did Burnley introduce selective licensing?
Selective licensing is used to improve housing conditions and tackle anti-social behaviour in the private rented sector.
Why did Burnley introduce additional licensing?
Additional HMO licensing addresses overcrowding, disrepair and management standards in smaller HMOs not covered by the national mandatory scheme.
What are the conditions to obtain an HMO licence in Burnley?
The council’s HMO licence conditions set standards for fire safety, amenities, room sizes and management (licence conditions).

About Burnley

Burnley is a town in Lancashire, England, with a population of approximately 94,700 as of 2024. The town has seen significant growth over the past decade, increasing by 8.8% since 2011. Burnley is known for its rich industrial heritage and diverse local economy, with key sectors including wholesale and retail trade, as well as vehicle repair services. Despite its growth, Burnley faces challenges such as high unemployment rates at 5.4%, above the national average of 3.8%, and property values that are significantly lower than the UK average, with an average property price of £135,968 compared to £294,910 nationwide

Licensing Enforcement in Burnley

Burnley Council enforces property licensing across its schemes. Letting a property without the required licence risks prosecution and civil penalties of up to £40,000 per property. The landlord can also face a rent repayment order of 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.