Blackpool Council Public Register of Landlord Licences

What the Public Register Is

Section 232 of the Housing Act 2004 requires Blackpool Council to maintain a public register of all selective and mandatory HMO licences that are in force, along with current temporary exemption notices and management orders. The register is not optional; it is a statutory obligation.

The council's self-service portal says the public register includes:

• The licence holder's name and address
• The name and address of the person managing the house or HMO
• The name and address of the licensed house or HMO
• A short description of the house or HMO
• A summary of the licence conditions
• The start date and duration of the licence

How to Search It

The register is searchable at selfservice.blackpool.gov.uk. You can look up properties by address. The results show whether a valid licence is in force, who holds it, and when it expires.

Tenants use the register to check whether their landlord actually holds a licence. If the property does not appear and it is in one of the eight inner wards (Bloomfield, Brunswick, Claremont, Talbot, Tyldesley, Victoria, Warbreck, Waterloo), the landlord may be operating unlicensed — which opens the door to a rent repayment order of up to 24 months' rent (for offences from 1 May 2026 onwards).

Prospective buyers use it to verify the licensing status of a property before purchasing. A licence cannot be transferred to a new owner. Blackpool Council's fee schedule lists a £140 charge for a change of ownership to an existing licence.

What It Does Not Tell You

The register confirms that a licence exists and who holds it. It does not tell you:

• Whether the licence holder is complying with all licence conditions
• Whether the property has passed a recent HHSRS inspection
• Whether the property has valid fire safety documentation under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (enforced by Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, not the council)
• Whether planning permission exists for HMO use

A licence on the register means the council was satisfied at the point of grant that the applicant was fit and proper and the required documents were in order. Ongoing compliance is a separate matter, verified through inspections.

Why Landlords Should Care

Your entry on the public register is visible to tenants, prospective tenants, letting agents, other landlords, and enforcement officers. It confirms you are operating lawfully. When the North West registration period begins on 15 May 2027, landlords with in-scope properties will need to provide details of any licences during registration. The government says the database will help councils target enforcement.

If you have applied but your licence has not yet been granted, your application reference number provides the statutory duly-made defence against prosecution. The register will show the licence once it is formally issued.

Our Blackpool landlord licensing guide covers the full application process from address check to licence grant, so your property appears on the register with everything in order.

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