Property Licensing Check
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Council websiteLandlord licensing in Liverpool City Council
North West
We currently show scheme records, official links, and supporting research for this council.
Licensing scorecard
Enhanced coverageOur current data shows active local licensing signals. Verify the latest boundaries, dates, fees, and exemptions with the council.
Selective licensing
Active selectiveAdditional HMO licensing
No active additional scheme shownMandatory HMO licensing
Applies across England- Source confidence
- High
- Boundary confidence
- Low
- Public register
- Clear searchable register (1/5)
- Last reviewed
- 27 March 2026
- Next review due
- Not scheduled
- Sources recorded
- 11
Our current data is a research summary, not a legal record. This should be verified with the council before letting, purchasing, refinancing, or taking legal action. Mandatory HMO licensing may still apply even where no local additional or selective scheme is recorded.
Recommended next step
Verify the position with the official council source
Our current data shows an active local scheme and a clear area match. The fastest reliable next step is to confirm the current fees, dates, boundaries, and exemptions on the official council source before letting, purchasing, refinancing, or taking legal action.
What still adds uncertainty
- At least one scheme uses street or custom-area boundaries, so a postcode match can only be approximate.
- Mandatory HMO licensing can apply based on occupancy and households, which cannot be confirmed from a postcode alone.
Buying, refinancing, or completing conveyancing? A due diligence report pulls the licensing position together with the official routes so the risk is documented before you commit. This is an information service and is not legal advice.
Verify with the council
Our current data is based on publicly available information. Always verify the latest licensing position, scheme boundaries, fees, and exemptions with Liverpool City Council.
Council updates
Get updates for Liverpool City Council
We will email you if Liverpool City Council introduces, renews, or changes a licensing scheme. Free, occasional updates only. Always verify final requirements on the council website.
Free, occasional licensing updates only. You can unsubscribe at any time.
If you need more than the council page
This page may already answer a lot of the question. Use the paid products only if you want a quicker written summary, a more risk-focused view, or ongoing monitoring.
Licensing Due Diligence Report
£79 · Live now
A more tailored, more decision-oriented, and more risk-focused review for higher-stakes property decisions.
Request the reportAlerts and monitoring
£12.99/month · Coming soon
A lighter monitoring tier for selected councils or areas, aimed at landlords and smaller investors who want ongoing updates.
See alerts and monitoringThese are information services, not legal advice. Final reliance should still be checked against council sources.
Check a postcode in Liverpool City Council
Enter a postcode to see whether it appears to fall within a licensing scheme area, then verify the result with the council.
Local licensing scheme records
Selective LicensingActive
Liverpool Selective Licensing Scheme (2022-2027)
Covers 16 wards in Liverpool where at least one in five homes is privately rented. Approximately 45,000 properties covered, representing around 80% of privately rented properties in the city.
- Licence fee
- £680
- Fee guide
- Full licence fee is £680 (Payment 1: £224.40, Payment 2: £455.60). New rental property licence: £469 (Payment 1: £225.12, Payment 2: £243.88). Multiple discount combinations available. Payment is in two parts: first for administration/processing, second upon licence grant for compliance checks and enforcement. Fees reviewed annually. {'epc_c_or_above_discount': '£62 per property', 'multi_flat_same_block_discount': '£62 per property (all flats must be licensed by same licence holder)', 'professional_membership_discount': '£36 per property (must be active membership before application)', 'homelessness_assistance': 'Full fee waiver (no fee)', 'eligible_professional_bodies': ['Propertymark', 'Safeagents', 'Liverpool Student Homes', 'NRLA', 'North West Property Owners Association'], 'new_rental_property_early_application': 'Reduced rate of £469 when applying before tenancy or within 14 days of occupation', 'combined_discounts_examples': {'new_rental_epc_c_or_above': '£407', 'new_rental_multi_flat': '£407', 'new_rental_membership': '£433', 'epc_c_plus_multi_flat': '£345', 'epc_c_plus_membership': '£371', 'multi_flat_plus_membership': '£371', 'epc_c_plus_multi_flat_plus_membership': '£309'}}
- Discount available
- {'epc_c_or_above_discount': '£62 per property', 'multi_flat_same_block_discount': '£62 per property (all flats must be licensed by same licence holder)', 'professional_membership_discount': '£36 per property (must be active membership before application)', 'homelessness_assistance': 'Full fee waiver (no fee)', 'eligible_professional_bodies': ['Propertymark', 'Safeagents', 'Liverpool Student Homes', 'NRLA', 'North West Property Owners Association'], 'new_rental_property_early_application': 'Reduced rate of £469 when applying before tenancy or within 14 days of occupation', 'combined_discounts_examples': {'new_rental_epc_c_or_above': '£407', 'new_rental_multi_flat': '£407', 'new_rental_membership': '£433', 'epc_c_plus_multi_flat': '£345', 'epc_c_plus_membership': '£371', 'multi_flat_plus_membership': '£371', 'epc_c_plus_multi_flat_plus_membership': '£309'}}
- Scheme period
- 1 April 2022 - 1 April 2027
- Typical licence term
- Up to 5 years (duration of scheme)
- Coverage
- See council website for boundaries
Research notes
Previous citywide scheme ran 2015-2020 covering ~55,000 properties. That scheme resulted in over 34,000 inspections, 65% non-compliance rate on first visit, over 2,500 legal notices, 169 formal cautions, 197 written warnings, 300+ successful prosecutions, and 87 civil penalties. For offences committed on or after 1 May 2026, GOV.UK guidance refers to civil penalties of up to £40,000 for relevant offences, with different treatment for breaches and for offences committed before that date. Earlier cases may still be assessed under previous rules. From 1 May 2026, Section 21 notices can no longer be used for existing or new private tenancies in England. Transitional rules may still matter for notices served before that date. Property types covered: All privately rented properties in designated wards, including mixed-use buildings with residential elements. Exemptions or exclusions: Landlords assisting the council to offer permanent accommodation to meet homelessness duties (must be working directly with the council's Housing Options service) receive a full fee waiver. Separate exemptions page exists but specific statutory exemptions not enumerated on the website.
Our current data shows this scheme based on public information. Always verify the latest fees, dates, and boundary wording on the official council page.
Public licensing register
Councils must keep a public register of licensed properties. How easy it is to use varies a lot between councils.
- Public register found
- Yes
- Search method
- Search online
- Register usability
- Clear searchable register (1/5)
Register appears to cover
HMOSelective
Appears to cover HMO and selective licences - always confirm scope on the register itself.
Register notes
No account required to search the register. Select the 'Licence Register' tab, then search using property details. For selective licensing, select 'Selective Licensing' from the dropdown menu. Accessible via Liverpool's Licensing and Regulations (LAR) portal.
The council register and official source pages should be treated as the source of truth. Our summary is a guide to help you find and use them, not a substitute for the live register. How public registers work.
Research summary
These public research signals help show how recently this page was reviewed and what still needs checking before you rely on it.
Last reviewed
27 March 2026
Research confidence
High (83/100)
Sources checked
11
Research notes
All key pages successfully fetched with detailed fee schedules, ward lists, scheme dates, register access, and contact information extracted. Multiple source pages cross-referenced and consistent. Only minor gaps in statutory exemption details and register field visibility.
Council contact details
- Phone
- 0151 233 3055
Important to verify
- Exact statutory exemptions list for selective licensing (referenced but not enumerated on website)
- Register fields visible (not specified on the page)
- HMO specific discounts (none found/may not exist)
Supporting sources
- https://liverpool.gov.uk/business/licences-and-permits/landlord-licensing/selective-licensing-scheme/
- https://liverpool.gov.uk/business/licences-and-permits/landlord-licensing/selective-licensing-scheme/fees-discounts-and-exemptions/
- https://liverpool.gov.uk/business/licences-and-permits/landlord-licensing/selective-licensing-scheme/do-i-need-a-selective-licence/
- https://liverpool.gov.uk/business/licences-and-permits/landlord-licensing/selective-licensing-scheme/apply-for-a-selective-licence/
- https://liverpool.gov.uk/business/licences-and-permits/landlord-licensing/selective-licensing-scheme/register-of-licensed-properties/
- https://liverpool.gov.uk/business/licences-and-permits/landlord-licensing/register-licensed-properties/
Mandatory HMO licensing
All councils in England must operate mandatory HMO licensing. This applies to properties with 5 or more occupants forming 2 or more separate households, regardless of location. If your property meets these criteria, you must apply for a mandatory HMO licence from Liverpool City Council.
Not sure whether the rules apply? Use the HMO licence checker to check whether a property may need an HMO licence, then verify the current position with Liverpool City Council.
Council-specific HMO detail we currently show
Mandatory HMO licensing applies to all properties within Liverpool City Council's boundaries that meet the HMO criteria. Covers over 2,600 properties.
- HMO fee guide
- £1,283
- Fee notes
- Base fee for up to 5 units is £1,283 (Payment 1: £466.40, Payment 2: £816.60). Fees increase by approximately £116-117 per additional unit. 10+ units: £466.40 + £1,399.60 + £58 per additional unit, capped at £3,500 total. 1-year licence: Payment 2 at 40%. 3-year licence: Payment 2 at 70%. Fees changing on 1 April 2026. Paid advice service available at £81.30/hour (minimum 2 hours) via hmo.licensing@liverpool.gov.uk.
- Typical licence term
- Up to 5 years (shorter licences of 1 year or 3 years may be issued if property was previously unlicensed, has poor management history, or landlord is unresponsive to notices)
Fee tiers by units: 5 units = £1,283; 6 = £1,400; 7 = £1,516; 8 = £1,633; 9 = £1,750; 10 = £1,866; 10+ = additional £58/unit up to £3,500 max. Shorter licences may be issued for previously unlicensed properties, poorly managed properties, or unresponsive landlords. Property types covered: Properties privately rented, occupied by 5 or more unrelated people (including children and babies), with 2 or more separate households, where occupants share a bathroom, kitchen or WC.
Other compliance requirements
In addition to licensing, all private landlords in England must comply with these requirements:
- Gas Safety Certificate (CP12) - renewed annually
- EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) - every 5 years
- EPC rating of E or above - required before letting
- Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms - checked at start of tenancy
- Deposit protection - within 30 days of receiving deposit
- Right to Rent checks - before tenancy starts
Common questions about licensing in Liverpool City Council
- Do I need a landlord licence in Liverpool City Council?
- Liverpool City Council currently operates selective licensing. Whether you need a licence depends on the property location, type, and occupancy. Use the postcode checker on this page or contact the council directly to confirm.
- How much does a property licence cost in Liverpool City Council?
- Based on our current data, licence fees in Liverpool City Council are approximately: Mandatory HMO Licensing: £1,283; Liverpool Selective Licensing Scheme (2022-2027): £680. Fees can vary and may include discounts for early applications. Always check the latest fees on the council website before applying.
- Does mandatory HMO licensing apply in Liverpool City Council?
- Yes. Mandatory HMO licensing applies across all of England, including Liverpool City Council. It covers properties with 5 or more occupiers forming 2 or more separate households. You must apply to Liverpool City Council for a mandatory HMO licence if your property meets these criteria.
- What happens if I rent without a licence in Liverpool City Council?
- Operating a licensable property without the correct licence can lead to enforcement action. For offences committed on or after 1 May 2026, GOV.UK guidance refers to civil penalties of up to £40,000 for relevant offences, with different treatment for breaches and for offences committed before that date. Earlier cases may still be assessed under previous rules. Tenants or local authorities may be able to apply for a rent repayment order. GOV.UK guidance now refers to up to two years' rent for relevant offences, but eligibility, timing and the final amount depend on the facts and tribunal decision. From 1 May 2026, Section 21 notices can no longer be used for existing or new private tenancies in England. Transitional rules may still matter for notices served before that date.
Still unsure? Choose the next step that fits you
Use these routes to move from the Liverpool City Council summary into the most relevant next action for your property, role, or research task.
Landlord with a standard let→
Start with a postcode if you want a property-specific route before relying on the council summary alone.
Shared occupancy or possible HMO→
Use the HMO checker if occupier numbers, households, or room-sharing could change the answer.
Check if a property has an HMO licence→
Use this if you need to check whether a property holds an HMO licence, or find the council's public HMO register.
Investor, buyer, or conveyancer→
Use the due diligence guide if this council page is part of a purchase, refinance, or pre-letting review.
Letting agent or portfolio manager→
Preview the monitoring route if you need ongoing watchlists and recurring scheme-change visibility.
Understand selective licensing rules→
Read the guide if you want the broader legal background on how selective licensing works alongside this council page.
Need the area-based route→
Use the selective licensing page if the real question is whether a standard rented home sits inside a designated area.
Tenant checking landlord compliance→
Use the tenant guide if you rent a property and want to check whether your landlord holds the right licence.
Important disclaimer
This tool provides general information about landlord licensing schemes in England. Results are based on publicly available data and may not reflect recent changes. This is not legal advice. Always verify licensing requirements directly with your local council before making decisions.