# Licensing in Preston

> Preston has no selective or additional licensing scheme in force. A selective scheme in 3 wards is proposed.

- Checked 26 Oct 2026 (researched_at 2026-10-26, verified_at 2026-10-26)
- Region: North West
- ONS code: E07000123
- Web page: https://lettance.com/councils/preston
- API: https://lettance.com/api/v1/councils/preston

## Licensing schemes

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

- Status: In force (`in_force`)
- Area: Whole of Preston (national scheme).
- Fee: Published standard fee: £882. From 1 April 2026: 'Standard rate for a five-year licence: £882 (payable in 2 parts)': £150 non-refundable application fee on submission, then £732 monitoring fee when the proposed licence is issued. An additional £129 is charged for unreasonable failure to apply by the appropriate date or failure to submit a complete application (£1,011 in total).
- Licence length: 5 years
- Who needs one: Houses, flats and converted buildings let to five or more unrelated occupiers forming two or more households who share a basic amenity (Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (Prescribed Description) (England) Order 2018, article 4). A section 257 converted block is not itself subject to mandatory licensing; an individual flat within one can still need a licence if it meets the prescribed description.
- Apply: https://www.preston.gov.uk/article/8468/Apply-for-a-Mandatory-HMO-Licence
- Licence conditions: https://www.preston.gov.uk/article/8471/HMO-Licence-conditions
- Confidence: High
- How we checked this: Applications are by PDF form (June 2026 version) emailed to the council; paper copies are no longer accepted. A DBS disclosure is required. Licences must be renewed every five years. The council's HMO page also lists buildings converted into self-contained flats that did not meet the 1991 Building Regulations (section 257 HMOs) among properties needing an HMO licence. Article 4 of the 2018 Prescribed Description Order does not include section 257 HMOs, GOV.UK guidance section 2.4 says converted blocks fall outside mandatory licensing, and no Preston additional designation was found, so the block itself is not recorded as needing a licence.
- Sources: https://www.preston.gov.uk/article/8468/Apply-for-a-Mandatory-HMO-Licence, https://www.preston.gov.uk/article/908/Do-I-need-a-HMO-licence, https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/221/article/4/made, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/houses-in-multiple-occupation-and-residential-property-licensing-reform-guidance-for-local-housing-authorities/houses-in-multiple-occupation-and-residential-property-licensing-reform-guidance-for-local-housing-authorities#24-converted-blocks-of-flats--section-257-hmos

### Selective licence: Proposed Selective Licensing scheme for City Centre, St Matthew's and Plungington

- Status: Proposed (`consultation`)
- Area: Three whole wards proposed: City Centre, St Matthew's and Plungington. The council says it 'would not apply across the whole of Preston'. 3 wards named in the proposal: City Centre, St Matthew's, Plungington. Ward boundaries: current wards (2026 proposal).
- Fee: Published standard fee: £1,050. Proposed fee £1,050 for a licence lasting up to five years: Part A £470 on application and Part B £580 once the council is minded to grant. No discounts, direct debit or instalments proposed. Proposed only.
- Licence length: 5 years
- Who needs one: If approved, all privately rented homes in the three wards unless exempt, including single-household lets, homes let to two unrelated sharers and smaller HMOs not needing a mandatory HMO licence.
- Exemptions: Statutory exemptions under the Selective Licensing of Houses (Specified Exemptions) (England) Order 2006, per the consultation document.
- Licence conditions: https://www.preston.gov.uk/selective-licensing-consultation-appendix-1
- Confidence: High
- How we checked this: Council page: 'The Selective Licensing consultation is now closed... All feedback received during the consultation will be considered before a final decision is made.' The consultation document gives the closing time as 'Sunday 11 October 2026 at 11.59pm' (a council-quoted press report of 29 July 2026 gave 1 October; the document date is used). Not in force; no designation has been made.
- Sources: https://www.preston.gov.uk/selective-licensing-consultation, https://www.preston.gov.uk/media/26600/Selective-Licensing-Consultation-Document/pdf/Selective_Licensing_Consultation_Document.pdf?m=1784639232207, https://www.central.radio/news/preston-leyland-and-chorley-news/consultation-launched-on-plans-for-new-housing-licencing-scheme-in-preston/

## Article 4 for house shares

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

- Area: In force: the 2012 C3 to C4 direction covering seven wards within the inner parts of Preston (in force 18 February 2012; see the council's 2012 area map). Proposed: a city-wide non-immediate direction made on 29 January 2026, covering the main urban areas, which the council proposes to bring into force on 15 February 2027 if confirmed; confirmation is pending after representations closed on 19 March 2026, and it would repeal the 2012 direction.
- Takes effect: 18 February 2012

Council source: https://www.preston.gov.uk/article4direction

## Civil penalty policy

Not yet confirmed: we have not found Preston's civil penalty policy yet.

## Consultations

- [Consultation on a Selective Licensing Scheme for Privately Rented Homes (City Centre, St Matthew's, Plungington)](https://www.preston.gov.uk/selective-licensing-consultation): Closed, awaiting decision. Closed 11 October 2026.
- [City-wide Article 4 Direction HMO (made 29 January 2026), awaiting confirmation decision](https://www.preston.gov.uk/article4direction): Closed, awaiting decision. Closed 19 March 2026.

## Not yet confirmed

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

- No selective or additional licensing scheme is currently in force (checked the council housing, landlord advice and HMO pages); the selective proposal awaits a decision.
- The seven wards covered by the 2012 Article 4 direction are shown only on the 2012 map and were not listed here; they may use pre-2015 ward boundaries.
- Confirmation of the 2026 city-wide Article 4 direction (proposed in force 15 February 2027) is pending.
- No civil penalty policy, or one updated for the Renters' Rights Act 2025, was found; HMO pages still cite £30,000.
- The council's HMO page lists section 257 converted blocks as needing an HMO licence, which national mandatory licensing does not cover and no additional designation was found to support; a landlord of a converted block should confirm with Preston council.

## Landlord register

The national landlord register is separate from licensing. Preston 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

---

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