Property Licensing Check
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Council websiteLandlord licensing in Bury
North West
We currently show scheme records, official links, and supporting research for this council.
Selective Licensing
No active selective scheme shown
Additional Licensing
Active additional
Mandatory HMO Licensing
Active mandatory HMO
Current status summary
What we currently show
Our current data shows active local licensing signals. Verify the latest boundaries, dates, fees, and exemptions with the council. This page combines scheme records, official verification links, and supporting local research. This public page currently has 2 sources linked or recorded.
What you still need to verify
Check live council wording for scheme boundaries, fees, dates, exemptions, application steps and whether the property setup changes the answer.
Official sources
A licensing page is available and should be treated as the main verification route.
Verify with the council
Our current data is based on publicly available information. Always verify the latest licensing position, scheme boundaries, fees, and exemptions with Bury.
Council updates
Get updates for Bury
We will email you if Bury introduces, renews, or changes a licensing scheme. Free, occasional updates only. Always verify final requirements on the council website.
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If you need more than the council page
This page may already answer a lot of the question. Use the paid products only if you want a quicker written summary, a more risk-focused view, or ongoing monitoring.
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A lighter monitoring tier for selected councils or areas, aimed at landlords and smaller investors who want ongoing updates.
See alerts and monitoringThese are information services, not legal advice. Final reliance should still be checked against council sources.
Check a postcode in Bury
Enter a postcode to see whether it appears to fall within a licensing scheme area, then verify the result with the council.
Local licensing scheme records
Additional LicensingActive
Additional HMO Licensing Scheme
Borough-wide Additional HMO Licensing Scheme extending licensing requirements to smaller HMOs with 3 or 4 tenants (i.e. those not covered by mandatory licensing). Introduced to address problems arising from a significant proportion of smaller HMOs being managed insufficiently effectively across the borough.
- HMO licence fee
- £666
- Fee guide
- £665.5
- Scheme period
- 19 July 2021 - 18 July 2026
- Typical licence term
- Up to 5 years
- Coverage
- Borough-wide
Research notes
Introduced under Part 2 of the Housing Act 2004. The council must satisfy itself that a significant proportion of 3-4 person HMOs in the borough are being managed sufficiently ineffectively as to give rise to particular problems for occupants or residents. Both the additional and mandatory schemes are administered through the same application portal and fee structure.
Our current data shows this scheme based on public information. Always verify the latest fees, dates, and boundary wording on the official council page.
Research summary
These public research signals help show how recently this page was reviewed and what still needs checking before you rely on it.
Last reviewed
28 March 2026
Research confidence
High (80/100)
Sources checked
2
Research notes
Mandatory HMO licensing fees and application links confirmed directly from Bury Council's official HMO licence page. Additional HMO licensing start date (19 July 2021) confirmed from two separate council decision documents (December 2025 HMO evidence base and January 2026 Planning Control Committee report). Contact email confirmed from Bury Council's landlord information page. No selective licensing scheme confirmed via multiple sources including Bury Council's own website and third-party landlord reference sources. Public register fee (£48) and format (email PDF) confirmed from official HMO licence page.
Council contact details
- Phone
- 0161 253 5000
- Address
- Bury Council, Town Hall, Knowsley Street, Bury, Lancashire, BL9 0SW
Register access
Public RegisterBy Request
It is a legal requirement under the Housing Act 2004 for the council to keep a public register of licensable HMOs. The register is not publicly searchable online. Note: The separate Bury Council Licensing Act premises register (https://licensing.bury.gov.uk) covers commercial premises (pubs, restaurants, etc.) under the Licensing Act 2003 and does NOT include HMO or property licences.
Important to verify
- Exact ward names covered by the immediate Article 4 Direction (15 March 2026)
- Confirmed renewal decision for Additional HMO Licensing Scheme (due ~July 2026)
- Whether discounts exist for accredited landlords or early applications
- Any recent council change that could affect the current public summary.
Mandatory HMO licensing
All councils in England must operate mandatory HMO licensing. This applies to properties with 5 or more occupants forming 2 or more separate households, regardless of location. If your property meets these criteria, you must apply for a mandatory HMO licence from Bury council.
Council-specific HMO detail we currently show
Borough-wide mandatory HMO licensing for all houses in multiple occupation occupied by 5 or more persons forming 2 or more households who share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet, used as their only or main residence. Also covers converted houses with bedsits or non-self-contained accommodation occupied by 5+ persons from 2+ households.
- HMO fee guide
- £666
- Fee notes
- £665.5
- Typical licence term
- Up to 5 years (may be issued for a shorter period in certain circumstances)
- Start date shown
- 1 January 2006
Licences include: property address, licence holder details, manager information, maximum occupants permitted, and licence conditions. Bury Council proactively seeks out and enforces against unlicensed landlords. The council's approach is informative and supportive; sanctions are only applied as a last resort after reasonable requests for compliance.
Other compliance requirements
In addition to licensing, all private landlords in England must comply with these requirements:
- Gas Safety Certificate (CP12) - renewed annually
- EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) - every 5 years
- EPC rating of E or above - required before letting
- Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms - checked at start of tenancy
- Deposit protection - within 30 days of receiving deposit
- Right to Rent checks - before tenancy starts
Common questions about licensing in Bury
- Do I need a landlord licence in Bury?
- Bury currently operates additional HMO licensing. Whether you need a licence depends on the property location, type, and occupancy. Use the postcode checker on this page or contact the council directly to confirm.
- How much does a property licence cost in Bury?
- Based on our current data, licence fees in Bury are approximately: Mandatory HMO Licensing: £666; Additional HMO Licensing Scheme: £666. Fees can vary and may include discounts for early applications. Always check the latest fees on the council website before applying.
- Does mandatory HMO licensing apply in Bury?
- Yes. Mandatory HMO licensing applies across all of England, including Bury. It covers properties with 5 or more occupiers forming 2 or more separate households. You must apply to Bury council for a mandatory HMO licence if your property meets these criteria.
- What happens if I rent without a licence in Bury?
- Operating a licensable property without the correct licence can lead to enforcement action. For offences committed on or after 1 May 2026, GOV.UK guidance refers to civil penalties of up to £40,000 for relevant offences, with different treatment for breaches and for offences committed before that date. Earlier cases may still be assessed under previous rules. Tenants or local authorities may be able to apply for a rent repayment order. GOV.UK guidance now refers to up to two years' rent for relevant offences, but eligibility, timing and the final amount depend on the facts and tribunal decision. From 1 May 2026, Section 21 notices can no longer be used for existing or new private tenancies in England. Transitional rules may still matter for notices served before that date.
Still unsure? Choose the next step that fits you
Use these routes to move from the Bury summary into the most relevant next action for your property, role, or research task.
Landlord with a standard let→
Start with a postcode if you want a property-specific route before relying on the council summary alone.
Shared occupancy or possible HMO→
Use the HMO checker if occupier numbers, households, or room-sharing could change the answer.
Check if a property has an HMO licence→
Use this if you need to check whether a property holds an HMO licence, or find the council's public HMO register.
Investor, buyer, or conveyancer→
Use the due diligence guide if this council page is part of a purchase, refinance, or pre-letting review.
Letting agent or portfolio manager→
Preview the monitoring route if you need ongoing watchlists and recurring scheme-change visibility.
Understand additional licensing rules→
Read the guide if you want the broader background on how additional HMO licensing works alongside this council page.
Need the local HMO route→
Use the additional licensing page if the real question is whether a smaller shared house needs a local licence here.
Tenant checking landlord compliance→
Use the tenant guide if you rent a property and want to check whether your landlord holds the right licence.
Important disclaimer
This tool provides general information about landlord licensing schemes in England. Results are based on publicly available data and may not reflect recent changes. This is not legal advice. Always verify licensing requirements directly with your local council before making decisions.