Landlord licensing in Westmorland and Furness Council

Licensing at a glance

HMO licensing

Mandatory HMO licensing applies to properties with five or more occupiers forming two or more households who share basic amenities like a kitchen, bathroom, or toilet. This national scheme is enforced by the council.

Additional licensing

Westmorland and Furness Council may implement additional licensing schemes to cover smaller HMOs not subject to mandatory licensing. These schemes are usually ward or street specific and require properties with three or four tenants from two or more households to be licensed.

Selective licensing

Selective licensing schemes can be designated by Westmorland and Furness Council to require all privately rented properties in a specific area to be licensed, including single-family homes. These schemes are typically introduced to address issues such as poor property conditions or anti-social behaviour.

Towns covered

Westmorland and Furness

What this means for you

If you let a property in the Westmorland and Furness Council area, first confirm which licensing regime the exact address falls under. Mandatory HMO licensing applies to any property let to five or more people forming two or more households who share a kitchen, bathroom, or toilet. Additional licensing can extend licensing to smaller HMOs. Designations run for up to five years and are ward- or street-specific, so confirm the position for the exact address. Selective licensing can require a licence for every private rented home in a designated area, including single-family lets. Check the current designations before you advertise. Whatever the licensing position, landlords and agents must keep a complete evidence pack for every tenancy. This includes a current gas safety record where there is gas, an EICR no more than five years old, a valid EPC, working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, deposit protection and prescribed information, and all required prescribed documents served before the tenancy starts. Compliance with the Renters' Rights Act 2025, including property condition standards and tenancy management obligations, is also mandatory.

Official links

• Licensing pages
• Council website