Blackburn with Darwen: landlord licensing
Blackburn with Darwen does not currently run a selective or additional licensing scheme, but mandatory HMO licensing still applies. Here is the full picture.
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Recently expired
Selective licensing
expiredFive separate selective licensing designations have operated and all have now expired: Infirmary (in force February 2009), Central Darwen (June 2009), Griffin (January 2013), Infirmary 2 (March 2016) and Darwen 2 (May 2017). The council states all have expired. Day-level start and end dates are not published for all five, so both are left null rather than estimated; only the Griffin expiry (January 2018) is separately confirmed.
- Dates
- To be confirmed
Official local authority licensing designation
Mandatory HMO licensing (applies everywhere)
Regardless of local schemes, any property in Blackburn with Darwen let to 5 or more people forming 2 or more households, who share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet, needs a mandatory HMO licence under the Housing Act 2004. Licences last up to 5 years and the fee is set by the council.
Penalties for operating unlicensed
- Civil penalty of up to £40,000 per offence (raised from £30,000 on 1 May 2026).
- Rent Repayment Order of up to 24 months' rent, claimable by the tenant.
- Unlimited fine on criminal prosecution, plus possible banning order.
- Once the national PRS Database is live, unregistered landlords can be blocked from regaining possession.
Notes
No licensing scheme is currently in force. Five selective licensing areas have operated since 2009 and all have expired. A new Hollins Bank scheme was consulted on in 2024 but the council postponed designating it in February 2025. Only mandatory HMO licensing applies today.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a landlord licence in Blackburn with Darwen?
Blackburn with Darwen does not currently operate a selective or additional licensing scheme. However, mandatory HMO licensing still applies, to any property let to 5 or more people forming 2 or more households.
What is the penalty for an unlicensed property in Blackburn with Darwen?
Operating a licensable property without a licence can lead to a civil penalty of up to £40,000 per offence, a Rent Repayment Order of up to 24 months' rent, an unlimited fine on prosecution, and a banning order for serious or repeat offenders.
Can a tenant in Blackburn with Darwen claim rent back from an unlicensed landlord?
Yes. Letting a property that required a licence, without one, is an offence under section 72(1) or section 95(1) of the Housing Act 2004, and a tenant can apply to the First-tier Tribunal for a Rent Repayment Order of up to 24 months' rent for offences committed on or after 1 May 2026. No conviction is needed first, but the tribunal must be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the offence was committed, and the application must be made within two years of it. Tribunals award a percentage of the rent rather than the maximum, following the method in Acheampong v Roman [2022] UKUT 239 (LC).
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Renting in Blackburn with Darwen?
If your home needed a licence and did not have one, you may be able to claim rent back
A Rent Repayment Order can be up to 24 months' rent, you apply to the tribunal yourself, and your landlord does not need to have been prosecuted. The deadline is two years from the offence.
🏛️ Government-backed data: built from official local authority licensing designations, ONS council boundaries and UK housing legislation (Housing Act 2004), verified as of July 2026. PRSCheck is an information service, not legal advice. Many schemes are designated at street or part-ward level; the paid report confirms the exact boundary and official source for your address. Browse all councils.