Do I need a landlord licence in East Staffordshire?

Yes — some rentals in East Staffordshire need a licence beyond the national HMO rules. Whether yours does depends on the property’s address and who lives there.

Mandatory HMO licensing (national)

Yes, everywhere in England

This is national law, not a council choice: any property rented to 5 or more people who form 2 or more separate households is a licensable HMO anywhere in England. If that describes your property, you need a licence from the council whether or not it runs any local scheme.

Official council source →

Selective licensing in East Staffordshire

Yes — a scheme is in force

East Staffordshire Borough Council operates a selective licensing scheme covering nine streets in Burton upon Trent: Blackpool Street, Branston Road, Broadway Street, Goodman Street, King Street, Queen Street, Shobnall Street, Uxbridge Street and Waterloo Street. The designation runs from 12 September 2022 to 11 September 2027, and every privately rented home in those streets needs a licence. If your property falls inside the designation, letting it without a selective licence is a criminal offence. Schemes change and new designations appear, so always confirm on the council’s own page before relying on this.

Official council source →

Additional HMO licensing in East Staffordshire

None that we know of

There is no additional HMO licensing scheme in East Staffordshire. HMO licensing applies only under the national mandatory scheme, where a property has five or more occupants forming two or more households. As of our last check we found no additional licensing scheme in East Staffordshire — but always confirm on the council’s page, because councils can designate new schemes at any time.

Official council source →

Is your exact property covered?

Designations in East Staffordshire can run street by street. Check where your property stands in 3 minutes — free, no account.

Get your free compliance scoreFull audit + call — £99

Common questions

Do I need a landlord licence in East Staffordshire?
It depends on the property: larger HMOs (5 or more people from 2 or more households) always need a mandatory licence anywhere in England, and East Staffordshire’s own selective or additional schemes can extend licensing to other rentals — see the current position above.
What happens if I let an unlicensed property in East Staffordshire?
Letting a licensable property without a licence is a criminal offence: unlimited fines on conviction or civil penalties of up to £30,000, a rent repayment order of up to 12 months’ rent, and restrictions on regaining possession.
How do I check if my exact address is inside a licensing area?
Designations are often street-by-street. Check the map or address checker on East Staffordshire’s licensing pages (linked above), or take our free compliance score and we’ll flag licensing as something to verify for your property.
How much does a landlord licence cost?
Fees are set per council and per scheme, typically several hundred pounds per property for a five-year licence. East Staffordshire’s current fees are on the official page linked above.
Can LetClerk handle the licence application for me?
Yes — checking your address against current schemes and preparing the application is part of our done-for-you compliance service. Start with the free score or the £99 audit and we’ll take it from there.