Transfer an abstraction or impounding licence (form WR165)
Use this form to transfer the whole of your abstraction or impounding licence to someone else.
Applies to England
You must meet the conditions of your licence and pay any fees until the Environment Agency issue a licence to the new licence holder.
The new licence holder will be responsible for meeting the licence conditions and paying any fees from the date the licence is transferred.
You cannot transfer a temporary abstraction licence.
Share responsibilities between two or more people
There’s a different form if you want to share the responsibilities under an existing licence between two or more people. This is known as apportioning a licence.
Transfer date
You can ask the Environment Agency to transfer the licence on a specific date. If you provide a specific date, it must be at least 5 weeks from today.
The Environment Agency may need to change the transfer date if they:
- need to ask you questions about your application
- cannot process the transfer in time
Entitlement to an abstraction licence
To transfer an abstraction licence, the new licence holder must:
- have, or expect to have, a right to access the place where they will abstract water
- have a right of access for at least 12 months, or the remaining length of the licence, whichever is less
The Environment Agency may ask for proof of their right of access, such as a deed, lease or tenancy agreement.
Before you start
The Environment Agency will ask you for:
- the licence number
- your contact details
- details of the new licence holder, including who to contact about site operations, abstraction returns and billing
- an authorisation letter from the new licence holder
Authorisation letters
You must upload an authorisation letter, signed by an authorised person. The letter must confirm the new licence holder:
- is aware of and approves the transfer
- has, or will have, access to the abstraction points
If you’re applying on behalf of the current licence holder, you must also upload an authorisation letter stating you are authorised to apply on their behalf.
Who can sign an authorisation letter
The Environment Agency accepts authorisation letters from the following authorised persons:
- registered company – a company director or company secretary
- limited liability partnership (LLP) – a partner, company director or company secretary
- the individual
- public body, for example, a local authority or NHS trust – a person authorised to sign documents on behalf of the organisation
- group of individuals – all individuals in the group
- partnership – one or more of the partners
- trust – all trustees, or the chair, treasurer or secretary
Apply online
Get help
For help using this service, contact:
General enquiries
National Customer Contact Centre
PO Box 544
Rotherham
S60 1BY
Email enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk
Telephone 03708 506 506
Telephone from outside the UK (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm GMT) +44 (0) 114 282 5312
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.