# Licensing in Lancaster

> Lancaster has no selective or additional licensing scheme in force.

- Checked 26 Oct 2026 (researched_at 2026-10-26, verified_at 2026-10-26)
- Region: North West
- ONS code: E07000121
- Web page: https://lettance.com/councils/lancaster
- API: https://lettance.com/api/v1/councils/lancaster

## Licensing schemes

### Mandatory HMO licence: Mandatory HMO licensing (Lancaster fees)

- Status: In force (`in_force`)
- Area: Whole Lancaster district (national scheme).
- Fee: Published standard fee: £758. HMO Licensing Fees from April 2026 (five-year licence): new licence £156 application (Part 1) + £602 licence fee (Part 2) = £758 for a five-person HMO, plus £57 per extra person; renewal £156 + £498 = £654 plus £57 per extra person; maximum £1,600. Discount of £114 per licence for members of a recognised accredited property scheme (Lancaster City Council scheme, Lancaster University approved homes) or multiple-property owners (more than 10 licences). £114 added for late applications/renewals or applications made after the property is found operating unlicensed.
- Licence length: 5 years
- Who needs one: Large HMOs: at least five tenants forming more than one household who share toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities.
- Apply: https://lancastercc-self.achieveservice.com/service/hmo_application
- Licence conditions: https://www.lancaster.gov.uk/assets/attach/14161/HMO-Standards.pdf
- Confidence: High
- How we checked this: The licence is 'usually for a 5 year period' and issued once both parts are paid. Planning permission is needed for HMOs with 3 or more tenants in the Article 4 area.
- Sources: https://www.lancaster.gov.uk/housing/private-rented-accommodation/houses-in-multiple-occupation-hmo, https://www.lancaster.gov.uk/assets/attach/18081/HMO-Licence-Fees.pdf

## Article 4 for house shares

Lancaster has an Article 4 direction on HMOs (shared houses). Turning a family home into a shared house may need planning permission.

- Area: Wards named in the confirmation notice: 'Bulk, Castle, John O'Gaunt, Marsh, Scotforth East, Scotforth West, Skerton East, Skerton West and the village of Galgate' (Skerton East and Skerton West are pre-2023 ward names; the current ward is Skerton). Made 10 November 2020, confirmed 24 March 2021, in force 10 November 2021.
- Takes effect: 10 November 2021

Council source: https://www.lancaster.gov.uk/planning/planning-advice/designations-and-constraints?chapter=5

## Civil penalty policy

The council's policy sets how it decides the size of a fine. The version we found has been updated for the Renters' Rights Act.

Housing Standards Civil Penalty Enforcement Policy (May 2026), 'Civil penalties under the Renters' Rights Act', marked 'Version for use where there are NO SELECTIVE LICENSING AREAS'. Failure to obtain an HMO licence: £17,000 starting point (£13,600 to £20,400 with landlord-type adjustment), statutory maximum £40,000.

Policy: https://www.lancaster.gov.uk/assets/attach/17937/Lancaster-City-Council-Housing-Standards-Civil-Penalty-Enforcement-Policy-May-2026.pdf

## Consultations

We found no consultations when we researched Lancaster.

## Not yet confirmed

We could not settle these points when we researched Lancaster on 26 October 2026. Check them with the council before you rely on them.

- No selective or additional licensing scheme was found. Checked: the private rented accommodation hub and HMO pages. The council's May 2026 civil penalty policy is expressly the 'Version for use where there are NO SELECTIVE LICENSING AREAS', which supports the absence of selective licensing; additional licensing was not mentioned anywhere fetched. Committee papers were not searched. History: after a July to October 2023 consultation on selective and additional licensing in Morecambe's West End (and Heysham North), Cabinet on 16 April 2024 agreed not to implement landlord licensing at that time and to pursue targeted enforcement and a Good Landlords Charter (https://committeeadmin.lancaster.gov.uk/mgAi.aspx?ID=50232); no later proposal was found.

## Landlord register

The national landlord register is separate from licensing. Lancaster is in North West, where registration is planned from 15 May 2027 to 14 August 2027. The regulations are still in draft. Read about the register: https://lettance.com/register

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From Lettance: https://lettance.com/councils/lancaster (catalogue edition 31 October 2026). This is information, not legal advice. Check the linked sources, and the council's own pages, before you act.