How to Apply for a Selective Licence in Blackpool

Before You Touch the Portal

The single biggest cause of failed or stalled applications is starting the portal before your documents are ready. Blackpool Council's self-service site at selfservice.blackpool.gov.uk has strict session timeouts and a 16-character minimum password requirement that catches people off guard on first registration. If you're halfway through an upload when the session drops, you lose your progress.

Get these ready as digital files (PDF or clear image) before you create an account:

• Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) — must be classified as "Satisfactory" (C1 or C2 remedial codes need proof of completed works)
• Gas Safety Certificate — current, issued by a Gas Safe registered engineer (only if the property has gas appliances)
• Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) — minimum grade E; a grade A–C qualifies for a £100 discount on the main property fee only if the Blackpool Standard is not met
• Tenancy agreement — the current written agreement showing occupant details
• Deposit protection certificate — from your scheme provider

For mandatory HMO applications, you also need scaled floor plans showing room dimensions in square metres, ceiling heights, window openings and fire escape routes.

The Six-Stage Application Process

Once your documents are staged, the portal walks you through six steps:

1. Scheme determination — The system asks screening questions to determine whether you need a selective or mandatory HMO licence. Answer based on actual occupancy, not what you think the property "should" be classified as.

2. Property and occupancy profiling — Enter the full property address, property type, number of self-contained units, total occupancy headcount and household structure.

3. Fit-and-proper declarations — You'll declare background information for the owner, the proposed licence holder and the manager. This covers unspent convictions (fraud, dishonesty, violence, drugs, sexual offences), previous housing enforcement action, and any historical licence revocations.

4. Document uploads — Upload your EICR, gas safety certificate, EPC and any other required documents. This is where pre-staging pays off — you're uploading, not hunting.

5. Part 1 payment (£354) — The non-refundable processing fee, paid through the portal's secure payment gateway. Once this goes through, your application reference number is generated.

6. Confirmation — You receive an electronic payment receipt and a unique application reference. This is your proof that the application is "duly made."

What "Duly Made" Actually Means

A duly made application gives you statutory protection under Section 95(3)(b) of the Housing Act 2004. While the council processes your application, you cannot be prosecuted for operating without a licence.

Three things must all be true for the application to count as duly made:

• All required fields completed
• All compliance documents uploaded in legible format
• Part 1 fee paid

A saved portal draft, a preliminary enquiry, or a fee payment without the rest does not count. You have zero enforcement protection until all three boxes are ticked.

After Submission

The council reviews your application, runs the fit-and-proper checks, and may schedule a property inspection. Processing times vary — the council doesn't publish a guaranteed timeline, and the volume of applications during the scheme's early months slowed things down.

Once they decide the licence can be granted, you'll receive a Stage 2 invoice for £418. This is paid through a separate payment portal (Access PaySuite). Your formal licence document isn't issued until Stage 2 is settled.

Paper applications are available only in exceptional accessibility circumstances and need pre-approval from the Housing Licensing Team.

The Blackpool Landlord Licensing Guide includes the complete pre-portal document staging checklist, portal navigation walkthrough, and the fee calculator worksheet so you can complete the application in a single sitting.

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