Accrington's private rented sector is shaped by its large stock of affordable Victorian terraced housing, particularly in the Church, Barnfield, and Peel wards. Buy-to-let entry prices of £80,000–£200,000 and gross yields of 7–9% have historically attracted landlords from across Greater Manchester and Lancashire. The M65 corridor gives tenants access to Preston, Burnley, and Blackburn within minutes.
Hyndburn Borough Council administers HMO licensing and housing enforcement across the borough, including Accrington. The council has a history of running additional HMO licensing schemes in higher-concentration areas. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 adds new national obligations from 1 May 2026: Section 21 abolition, Awaab's Law on damp and mould (PRS extension — date TBC), mandatory Property Portal registration, and civil penalties up to £40,000 per breach.
Renters' Rights Act 2025 — England-wide obligations from 1 May 2026
All Accrington private landlords must comply with these national changes from 1 May 2026:
- Section 21 abolished: No-fault eviction notices served on or after 1 May 2026 are unlawful. All possession must use Section 8 and one of the revised Schedule 2 grounds only
- Periodic Assured Tenancy Agreement required: All new tenancies from 1 May 2026 must use a PAT-compliant agreement. Fixed-term ASTs are no longer available for new private residential lets in England
- Awaab's Law (PRS extension — date to be confirmed): Mandatory statutory timeframes for responding to, investigating, and repairing damp, mould, and other HHSRS hazards in all private rented properties
- Information Sheet obligation: Every landlord with an existing tenancy as at 1 May 2026 must deliver the official RRA 2025 Information Sheet to every named tenant by 31 May 2026. Penalty: up to £7,000 per tenancy
- Pet request right: Tenants on PATs have the right to request a pet. Landlords must respond in writing within 42 days or consent is deemed given
- Civil penalties up to £40,000: Maximum civil penalties for PRS non-compliance rise to £40,000 per offence under the RRA 2025
- Rent increase via Section 13 only: Rent on a PAT can only be raised via formal Section 13 notice (Form 4A), once every 12 months
Hyndburn Borough Council HMO licensing
Hyndburn Borough Council administers HMO licensing and enforcement across Accrington and the borough, with targeted enforcement in higher-concentration rental areas.
- Mandatory HMO licensing: All Accrington properties occupied by 5 or more people forming 2 or more separate households require a mandatory HMO licence under the Housing Act 2004
- Additional HMO licensing: Hyndburn has operated additional licensing schemes for smaller HMOs in designated areas. Check Hyndburn Borough Council's current licensing register — schemes are time-limited and subject to renewal
- Selective licensing: Hyndburn Borough Council has designated selective licensing areas requiring all private landlords to hold a licence regardless of property size. Verify current designations with the council before letting in any Accrington ward
- Proactive inspections: The council's housing enforcement team conducts proactive inspections in licensed areas. Licence breaches including room size failures, fire safety deficiencies, and management regulation breaches result in improvement notices and civil penalties
- HMO licence conditions: Hyndburn HMO licences specify minimum room sizes (6.51 m² for a single adult sleeping room), fire detection grades, fire door compliance, and maximum permitted occupancy
Awaab's Law — damp and mould obligations for Accrington landlords
Accrington's dense Victorian terraced housing stock is inherently susceptible to damp and mould. Awaab's Law is expected to introduce mandatory response timeframes for the PRS — date to be confirmed by secondary legislation.
- Emergency hazards — 24 hours: Begin emergency repair work within 24 hours of notification of an emergency hazard (gas leak, structural collapse risk, sewage)
- Serious damp/mould — 7 days: Investigate and issue a written repair plan within 7 days for serious damp, mould, or HHSRS High hazards
- Non-urgent hazards — 28 days: Assess and communicate a remediation schedule within 28 days for less serious hazards
- Solid-wall terrace risk: Accrington's back-to-back and through-terrace properties have solid walls with no cavity insulation, making them particularly prone to penetrating damp, condensation, and mould growth. Landlords must respond promptly
- Written records required: All reports, inspections, and repair schedules must be documented and retained for the duration of the tenancy
Section 21 abolition — what Accrington landlords must do now
From 1 May 2026 all possession must be via Section 8. Accrington landlords must select the correct ground for the specific situation.
- Ground 1A (sale): 4 months' notice where the landlord genuinely intends to sell — the property must not be re-let to a new tenant for 12 months
- Ground 1 (owner occupation): 4 months' notice where the landlord or a specified family member intends to occupy as their principal home
- Ground 8 (serious arrears): 4 weeks' notice where the tenant has at least 2 months' arrears at the date of notice and at the hearing
- Ground 14 (anti-social behaviour): Immediate notice where the tenant or a visitor is causing nuisance or annoyance to neighbours
- PAT agreement required: All new tenancies from 1 May 2026 must use a Periodic Assured Tenancy Agreement to enable lawful Section 8 notice service
Gas, electrical and fire safety — Accrington landlord requirements
Safety certificate requirements for Accrington rental properties:
- Annual Gas Safety Certificate: All gas appliances and installations must be checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer every 12 months. The CP12 record must be given to tenants within 28 days
- EICR every 5 years: An Electrical Installation Condition Report must be produced by a qualified electrician at least every 5 years and given to tenants before occupation
- Smoke alarms on every storey: A working smoke alarm must be installed on every storey used as living accommodation, tested at the start of each tenancy
- CO alarms required: Carbon monoxide alarms are mandatory in every room with a solid fuel appliance and in rooms with gas boilers for properties let from October 2022
- HMO fire safety: Hyndburn HMO licences may require hardwired interlinked fire detection, emergency lighting, and fire-rated doors depending on property size and layout
Accrington landlord compliance checklist 2026
Key actions for Accrington and Hyndburn landlords in 2026:
- Register on the Renters' Rights Act Property Portal before marketing any property
- Join the PRS Ombudsman scheme — mandatory for all English private landlords
- Obtain or renew HMO licence for 5+ person / 2+ household properties
- Check whether your Accrington property falls within an additional or selective licensing area
- Issue RRA 2025 Information Sheet to all existing tenants by 31 May 2026
- Transition all new tenancies from 1 May 2026 to PAT agreements
- Use Section 8 and correct Schedule 2 grounds for all possession claims
- Protect all deposits within 30 days and serve prescribed information
- Maintain valid EPC (minimum E), Gas Safety Certificate, and EICR
- Install and test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
- Conduct right to rent checks for all adult occupants before tenancy start
- Document all damp/mould reports and respond within Awaab's Law timeframes
Frequently asked questions
Is Section 21 still valid in Accrington in 2026?+
No. Section 21 was abolished from 1 May 2026 under the Renters' Rights Act 2025. Accrington landlords must use Section 8 and the appropriate Schedule 2 ground for all possession claims from this date.
Do I need an HMO licence for my Accrington rental property?+
Mandatory HMO licensing applies if your property has 5 or more occupants from 2 or more separate households. Hyndburn Borough Council may also operate additional and selective licensing in designated areas. Check the current council licensing register before letting.
What does Awaab's Law mean for Accrington landlords?+
Awaab's Law requires you to begin emergency work within 24 hours, investigate serious damp or mould within 7 days, and remediate within 28 days. Accrington's Victorian terraced stock is particularly vulnerable to solid-wall damp and condensation. Failure to respond is a civil offence with penalties up to £40,000.
What tenancy agreement do I need for new Accrington lets from May 2026?+
All new private residential tenancies in England from 1 May 2026 must use a Periodic Assured Tenancy Agreement. LetSafe UK provides RRA 2025-compliant PAT agreements tailored for East Lancashire landlords.
What buy-to-let yields can I expect in Accrington?+
Accrington offers some of the highest buy-to-let yields in Lancashire. Entry prices of £80,000–£200,000 and strong rental demand from working households typically produce gross yields of 7–9%, depending on property type and location within the borough.