Landlord Licensing Guide

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council has a live landlord licensing scheme

Unitary · South West · Last researched 2026-09-03

Selective licensing in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council

✓ No selective scheme found

Researched with no evidence of a live scheme. Licensing status changes on a weeks-to-months cadence, not annually — this is why we date every page.

🕓 CONSULTATION

coverage: partial. BCP Council has run cabinet decisions and public consultation on introducing selective licensing across eight named areas of Bournemouth/Poole, citing anti-social behaviour and deprivation. Not yet a live, designated scheme as of research date.

Additional licensing in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council

🔴 IS LIVE NOW

BCP Additional HMO Licensing; coverage: partial; fee: £900 (5-year licence)

Designated areas: Boscombe West, Central, parts of Winton, parts of Charminster. Partial-coverage schemes only apply on specific streets — check the council's own boundary map for your exact address.

Medium confidence — sourced from a licensing data aggregator, not independently re-verified on the council's own domain this pass. Sources: https://housingdigital.co.uk/public-consultation-on-schemes-to-regulate-hmos-and-private-sector-properties-in-bournemouth-christchurch-and-poole-has-been-extended/ · https://www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/housing/houses-in-multiple-occupation-hmos

Need to actually apply? We'll prepare the whole application.

This scheme is already live — an unlicensed property in a designated area is an offence now, not later.

Our Licence Application Pack works out exactly which scheme covers your specific address, the real fee breakdown and discounts you can claim, every document the council's own form asks for, and the submission link and deadline — delivered as one dated, ready-to-submit pack.

Licence fees in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council: £900 per property, paid to the council on top of any help you get preparing the application.

£149 one-off. The NRLA, the UK's largest landlord association, resells done-for-you licence application handling through a partner at £295–£425 + VAT per application.

Check if you need a licence — free →

The free check tells you whether a licence is required at all. We only sell you a pack if one genuinely is. We prepare the application — you submit it to the council yourself.

National obligations that apply everywhere in England

These apply regardless of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council's own licensing rules — every England landlord is on the hook for these:

Annual Gas Safety Certificate (CP12) — Any property with gas — unlimited fine and/or imprisonment on conviction if missing.
Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) — Every rental property — a live legal requirement in England since 2020.
Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) — Every rental property — currently rated E or above to be let legally.
Tenancy deposit protection — Any deposit taken — must be protected in a government-approved scheme within 30 days.
Right to Rent checks — Every tenant — landlords must verify immigration status before letting.
PRS Landlord Database registration — Phasing in nationally 2026–2028 under the Renters' Rights Act — a new, separate requirement from council licensing.

Get your exact compliance status for a property in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council — free, in under 2 minutes.

Check my compliance — free Get the full £9 audit

Related guides

Information, not legal advice. Compiled from public sources on 2026-09-03; licensing schemes change on a weeks-to-months cadence, not annually, so always confirm directly with Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council before relying on this for a real letting decision. Overall confidence for this page: medium.