West Midlands · Council licensing
Landlord licensing in East Staffordshire
✓ Hand-verified 24 Aug 2026East Staffordshire operates discretionary property licensing. Letting an unlicensed property where a scheme applies risks a civil penalty of up to £30,000 and a rent repayment order — check whether your property is covered below.
Required for any HMO let to 5 or more people forming 2+ households who share facilities.
East Staffordshire sets this fee under section 63(3) of the Housing Act 2004. Its current charge is not yet recorded here.
The council’s own licensing page carries the charge that applies today — confirm it there before you budget.
Not established is not the same as free.
IN FORCE. Street-based s.80 designation in Burton-upon-Trent (first-party research 18 Aug 2026). The council's own dedicated Selective Licensing Scheme page states "The Council's Selective Licensing Scheme requires all landlords who privately rent out properties within the designated areas to obtain a licence from the council" and "The scheme came into effect on 12 September 2022 and will end on 11 September 2027." The council's news release names the designated streets: Blackpool Street, Branston Road, Broadway Street, Goodman Street, King Street, Queen Street, Shobnall Street, Uxbridge Street and Waterloo Street, and states "The designation will come into force on 12th September 2022 and will have effect until 11th September 2027" covering "approximately 750 private rented homes within Burton upon Trent, where we receive the highest amount of housing disrepair complaints". A previous selective scheme preceded this one and some streets carry over. Fees: new single property GBP 507, non-mandatory HMO GBP 620, renewal GBP 327, with accredited landlord, introductory and multiple property discounts of GBP 50 to GBP 100. Enforcement is active (2024 appeal upheld on fixed penalty notices).
One payment.
- Renewal £300
- Discounts: £50 accredited landlord, £100 introductory for complete applications within the required six-week window, £50 multi-property from the second property
East Staffordshire, read 24 August 2026
Scheme runs until: 11 September 2027
Evidenced negative by enumeration (first-party research 18 Aug 2026): the council operates a selective licensing scheme in Burton-upon-Trent and publishes no s.56 additional HMO designation anywhere on its domain. Its landlord pages present mandatory HMO licensing plus the selective scheme as the licensing in operation; nothing extends licensing to three or four person HMOs outside the selective streets.
Common questions
Does East Staffordshire have a selective licensing scheme?
Yes. East Staffordshire operates a selective licensing scheme. Letting a property covered by it without a licence risks a civil penalty of up to £30,000, a rent repayment order of up to twelve months' rent, and the loss of the right to serve a section 21 notice.
Does East Staffordshire have an additional HMO licensing scheme?
No. East Staffordshire does not currently operate an additional HMO licensing scheme. Mandatory HMO licensing still applies wherever a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households.
Do I need an HMO licence in East Staffordshire?
A mandatory HMO licence is required anywhere in England and Wales, including East Staffordshire, where a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households who share basic amenities. Smaller shared houses may also need a licence where an additional licensing scheme applies.
- Free landlord compliance check — five questions, no account
- Tenancy agreement checker — findings cited to the Act and section
Selective licensing in East Staffordshire: areas, dates and fees →
All property licensing in West Midlands →
Source: East Staffordshire licensing page →
Every landlord in East Staffordshire also needs
A valid Gas Safety certificate (annual), an EICR (every 5 years), a valid EPC, a protected deposit, smoke & CO alarms, the Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet, and a current How to Rent guide — plus the new Section 8 possession rules since Section 21 was abolished on 1 May 2026.
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