Hyndburn Borough Council landlord licensing
- Mandatory HMO licensing applies to properties with 5 or more persons from 2 or more households
- Hyndburn Borough Council has operated additional HMO licensing schemes in higher-concentration Accrington wards — verify current designations with the council
- Selective licensing areas require all private landlords to hold a licence regardless of property size — check the current register before letting
- Property Portal and PRS Ombudsman registration are mandatory under the Renters' Rights Act 2025
Renters' Rights Act 2025 — key obligations
- Section 21 no-fault evictions abolished from 1 May 2026
- Fixed-term tenancies cannot be granted for new lets — all tenancies are periodic
- Property Portal registration mandatory before any property can be let
- PRS Ombudsman membership mandatory for all private landlords in England
- Rent increases must use the statutory Section 13 notice; one rise per 12-month rolling window
EPC requirements
- Current minimum Band E — properties below Band E cannot be let
- EPC Band C is confirmed government policy for 2030
- Accrington's dense Victorian terraced stock typically requires solid-wall insulation or underfloor insulation to reach Band C
- Commission a fresh RdSAP 10 assessment if your certificate is over 5 years old
Gas and electrical safety
- Annual gas safety check (CP12) by Gas Safe registered engineer
- Five-yearly EICR mandatory; C1/C2 defects remediated within 28 days
- Smoke alarms on every storey; CO alarms in rooms with gas boilers and solid fuel appliances
- HMO fire safety conditions may require hardwired interlinked detection and fire doors
Deposit protection
- Protect deposit in DPS, myDeposits or TDS within 30 days of receipt
- Serve Prescribed Information within 30 days
- Maximum deposit 5 weeks' rent for rents under £50,000 per year
- Failure to protect on time prevents valid Section 8 service and exposes landlord to penalty of 1–3 times the deposit