Landlord licensing in Barnsley Council
Yorkshire and The Humber · England
Licensing at a glance
- HMO licensing
- Mandatory HMO licensing applies to properties with five or more occupiers forming two or more households who share a kitchen, bathroom, or toilet. These properties require a licence.
- Additional licensing
- Barnsley Council has no active additional licensing schemes for smaller Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) at present. Landlords should check the council's website for any future scheme designations.
- Selective licensing
- Barnsley Council operates selective licensing in the following areas: Dearne North, Dearne South, Hoyland Milton, Kingstone, Wombwell, and Worsbrough. These designations commenced on 1 October 2024 and will run for five years, ending on 30 September 2029.
- Typical fees
- Mandatory HMO Licence fees are £825 for a new application and £660 for a renewal application. Selective Licence fees are £700 for a new application and £500 for a renewal application. The fee is payable in two stages, with specific amounts due at application and upon approval.
- Towns covered
- Barnsley
What this means for you
If you let a property in the Barnsley Council area, first confirm which licensing regime the exact address falls under. Mandatory HMO licensing applies to properties with five or more occupiers forming two or more households who share facilities. Additional licensing can extend licensing to smaller HMOs, and selective licensing can require a licence for every private rented home in designated areas, including single-family lets. Check the council's own licensing pages for current designations, fees, and boundaries. The Renters' Rights Act 2025, with main provisions commencing in 2026, replaces fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies with periodic assured tenancies, ends section 21 no-fault evictions, and introduces a national landlord database and ombudsman. Ensure you are registered on the national landlord database, have a current gas safety record where applicable, an EICR no more than five years old, a valid EPC, working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, deposit protection and prescribed information, and all other required prescribed documents served before the tenancy starts.
Official links
Licensing designations, fees and boundaries change regularly. This page is a general summary, not legal advice — always confirm the position for the exact address with Barnsley Council before letting. Last reviewed 1 October 2026.