Blackpool Selective Licence Renewal, Transfers and Changes

How Long a Selective Licence Lasts

Selective licences may run for up to five years from the date they are granted or come into force. The current scheme designation expires on 31 March 2030, but that date does not automatically end an individual licence: under Section 91(5) of the Housing Act 2004, a licence continues for its stated period even if the house ceases to be a Part 3 house. Check the expiry date on the licence itself.

The council's published base fee is £772 for a single-household property. Its public fee page does not specify a shorter-term fee.

Mandatory HMO licences work differently — they're not tied to a scheme designation and are typically issued for a full five-year term from the date of grant.

Licences Cannot Be Transferred

A property licence is granted to a specific individual or corporate entity for a specific property. It cannot be transferred to another person or property under any circumstances.

When a licensed property is sold:

• The sale does not automatically terminate the licence; under Section 91, it continues for its stated period unless terminated or revoked.
• A licence is personal to its holder and cannot be transferred to the buyer.
• Blackpool's published fee schedule lists a £140 charge for a change of ownership to an existing licence. It does not explain when that process applies to a sale, so the buyer should confirm the required application route with the Housing Licensing Team before letting the property.

This catches people in property transactions. A buyer should not assume a licence transfers with the property or that a new application is always required; confirm the licence status and required process with the council before letting.

Changing the Manager

If you need to change the designated manager on an existing licence — say you switch letting agents or start self-managing — you can request a licence variation through the self-service portal. Minor variations like updating contact details or the manager's address don't require a full new application.

However, changing the actual licence holder (the person who holds the licence, as opposed to the manager named on it) requires a completely new application with a new fee. The variation route only works for changes within the existing licence holder structure.

What Happens When the Scheme Expires in 2030

The current Inner Area Selective Licensing designation runs from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2030. After that date, the scheme ceases to exist unless the council renews it with a fresh designation.

If the council decides to renew:

• They must run a formal public consultation of at least 10 weeks
• They must make a new designation notice under Section 83 of the Housing Act 2004
• Existing licences do not automatically expire with the old designation. Under Section 91, each remains in force for the period stated on it, up to five years, unless terminated or revoked.

If the council doesn't renew, selective licensing ends in the eight inner wards. Properties that previously needed a selective licence would no longer require one — though mandatory HMO licensing continues regardless, since that's a permanent national statutory duty.

Given Blackpool's history with selective licensing and the scale of housing challenges in the inner wards, renewal in some form is considered likely. But until a formal designation is published, nothing is guaranteed.

Temporary Exemption Notices

If you're planning to take a property out of the rental market — selling it vacant, moving back in as owner-occupier, or converting an HMO back to a single dwelling — you can apply for a Temporary Exemption Notice (TEN) under Section 86 of the Housing Act 2004.

A TEN exempts the property from licensing for three months. In exceptional circumstances, a second three-month TEN may be granted. No property can be subject to more than six months of TEN exemptions in total.

The Blackpool Landlord Licensing Guide covers licence duration, the transfer rules for property sales, and how to handle changes to the licence holder or manager during the scheme period.

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