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Property Licensing Guide for Burnley
Burnley currently operates selective licensing in 11 wards; mandatory HMO licensing applies everywhere. 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?
Burnley is in the North West registration window for the PRS database, which opens on 15 May 2027: see how the North West registration window affects letting agents.
Burnley Property Licensing Schemes
Burnley Council consulted from 3 August to 18 October 2026 on renewing selective licensing in Burnley Wood with Healey Wood and the Leyland Road area, and adding a Lyndhurst Road area. The council has published no decision yet. Its Executive will decide whether to proceed after reviewing the responses. Check a property against the council’s area maps and street lists, or use Kamma’s free checker.
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.
Burnley ran a consultation on selective licensing, which closed on 18 October 2026. The scheme set out above is unchanged by it.
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?
Apply through Burnley Council’s website: selective licence information or HMO licence applications. 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 licensing schemes. Know exactly what you need.
Burnley Property Licensing FAQs
What licensing schemes does Burnley operate?
Burnley operates selective licensing under two designations: 21 July 2022 to 20 July 2027 (Burnley Wood with Healey Wood and Leyland Road) and 27 April 2025 to 26 April 2030 (Trinity, Daneshouse, Gannow, Queensgate and Padiham). Mandatory HMO licensing applies in Burnley under national rules. Burnley has no additional HMO licensing scheme.
Do all properties in Burnley need a licence?
Not every Burnley property needs a licence. Selective licensing covers privately rented homes in the designated areas, whatever the number of occupants. Mandatory HMO licensing covers Burnley properties occupied by five or more people forming two or more households. Burnley has no additional licensing scheme for smaller HMOs.
What if my property doesn't have a licence?
Operating a property in Burnley that requires a licence without one can bring a civil penalty of up to £40,000 per property, for offences on or after 1 May 2026. The council also states that it can prosecute. The landlord 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 in Burnley can apply for selective and HMO licences on behalf of landlords, and many manage the full process.
How do I apply for a Burnley property licence?
Apply to Burnley Council online. Start selective licence applications from the council’s selective licensing page, and HMO applications from the council’s HMO licence page. You can also use a managed service such as Kamma.
Why did Burnley introduce selective licensing?
Burnley Council says it introduced selective licensing in areas with low demand for housing or poor property condition. It cites more private renting, lower house values, antisocial behaviour, environmental crime and vacant properties in those areas. The current designations run 21 July 2022 to 20 July 2027 and 27 April 2025 to 26 April 2030.
Does Burnley have additional HMO licensing?
No. Burnley has no additional HMO licensing scheme, so smaller HMOs are not licensed under one. Mandatory HMO licensing applies in Burnley to HMOs occupied by five or more people forming two or more households.
What are the conditions to obtain an HMO licence in Burnley?
Burnley Council publishes HMO standards covering HMO licensing in the borough (Burnley HMO standards). Selective licence holders in Burnley follow separate selective licence conditions set by the council.
About Burnley
Burnley Council’s selective licensing covers named areas, not the whole town. The 2022 designation (21 July 2022 to 20 July 2027) covers Burnley Wood with Healey Wood and the Leyland Road area. The 2025 designation (27 April 2025 to 26 April 2030) covers Trinity, Daneshouse with Stoneyholme, Gannow, Queensgate and Padiham, using the council’s names for these areas. Burnley also has an Article 4 Direction in force since 14 October 2024, and the council asks HMO applicants to establish lawful planning use before applying.
Licensing Enforcement in Burnley
Burnley Council has a dedicated selective licensing officer in each licensing area and says letting without a required licence is a criminal offence. 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.
