Chorley Borough Council landlord licensing
- Mandatory HMO licensing applies to properties with 5 or more persons from 2 or more households
- Chorley Borough Council may designate additional and selective licensing areas — verify with the council before letting
- HMO licence conditions include minimum room sizes, fire detection, annual gas safety certificate, 5-yearly EICR
- 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
- Chorley's mix of Victorian terrace and 1930s–1960s semi-detached stock may need cavity wall or solid wall 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
- EPC minimum Band E — confirm band and plan Band C upgrade ahead of 2030 target
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 exposes landlord to penalty of 1–3 times the deposit