Do I need a landlord licence in Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council?

Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council currently operates additional HMO 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 Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council?

Based on our current data, licence fees in Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council are approximately: Additional Licensing Scheme for 3 and 4 Person HMOs (Borough-Wide): Standard base application fee is £1,011 plus £53 per habitable room inspection fee. Example: 10 habitable rooms = £1,011 + £530 = £1,541 total for 5 years (£308.20/year). VAT is not payable on licence fees. Fees are non-refundable if a licence is refused. No accreditation discount or early bird discount mentioned on council website; Mandatory HMO Licensing: Same fee structure as additional licensing: £1,011 base application fee plus £53 per habitable room inspection fee. Example: 10 habitable rooms = £1,541 total for 5 years. VAT is not payable. No accreditation discount mentioned on council website. 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 Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council?

Yes. Mandatory HMO licensing applies across all of England, including Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council. It covers properties with 5 or more occupiers forming 2 or more separate households. You must apply to Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council for a mandatory HMO licence if your property meets these criteria.

What happens if I rent without a licence in Rochdale Metropolitan Borough 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.

Enhanced research coverage

Landlord licensing in Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council

North West

We currently show scheme records, official links, and supporting research for this council.

Council website

Licensing scorecard

Enhanced coverage

Our current data shows active local licensing signals. Verify the latest boundaries, dates, fees, and exemptions with the council.

Selective licensing

No active selective scheme shown

Additional HMO licensing

Active additional

Mandatory HMO licensing

Applies across England

Source confidence: High
Boundary confidence: High
Public register: Download only (PDF or file) (3/5)
Last reviewed: 27 March 2026
Next review due: Not scheduled
Sources recorded: 13

Open the official council source

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.

Check the official council source Get a written property licensing check

What still adds uncertainty

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 Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council.

Verify on official council licensing page Council website Report an inaccuracy

Council updates

Get updates for Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council

We will email you if Rochdale Metropolitan Borough 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.

Property Licensing Check

£29 · Live now

A property-specific PDF licensing report with a verification email template, current scheme fees, and a £30,000 risk context block — delivered to your inbox automatically.

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Licensing Due Diligence Report

£79 · Live now

A more tailored, more decision-oriented, and more risk-focused review for higher-stakes property decisions.

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Alerts 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 monitoring

These are information services, not legal advice. Final reliance should still be checked against council sources.

Check a postcode in Rochdale Metropolitan Borough 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

Additional LicensingActive

Additional Licensing Scheme for 3 and 4 Person HMOs (Borough-Wide)

Borough-wide - covers all 3 or 4 person HMOs across the entire Borough of Rochdale

Fee guide: Standard base application fee is £1,011 plus £53 per habitable room inspection fee. Example: 10 habitable rooms = £1,011 + £530 = £1,541 total for 5 years (£308.20/year). VAT is not payable on licence fees. Fees are non-refundable if a licence is refused. No accreditation discount or early bird discount mentioned on council website
Discount available: No accreditation discount or early bird discount mentioned on council website
Designation date: 29 October 2024
Scheme period: 29 April 2025 - 28 April 2030
Typical licence term: Up to 5 years (or until scheme expiry date)
Coverage: Borough-wide

Apply for licence

Research notes

This is a new scheme replacing the previous additional licensing scheme which expired in 2016. It was introduced to address declining housing standards, a 46% rise in private tenant complaints since 2016 (from 279 to 518 complaints), and issues including poor property management, disrepair, overcrowding, crime, and anti-social behaviour associated with unregulated HMOs. Landlords who rent a 3 or 4 person small HMO must apply for a licence as soon as they begin letting. Licences are non-transferable. Operating without a licence is a criminal offence. Property types covered: HMOs occupied by 3 or 4 unrelated persons forming 2 or more households (small HMOs not previously captured by mandatory licensing). Exemptions or exclusions: Statutory exemptions apply as per the Housing Act 2004. Properties already subject to mandatory HMO licensing are excluded. Properties entirely occupied by freeholders or long leaseholders, educational institution-managed HMOs, care homes, properties managed by local housing authorities or registered social landlords, and others listed in Schedule 14 of the Housing Act 2004.

Verify on official council page

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: Download a file (PDF or spreadsheet)
Register usability: Download only (PDF or file) (3/5)

HMOAdditional

Appears to cover HMO and additional licences - always confirm scope on the register itself.

Register notes

Single combined HMO register covering both mandatory and additional licensed HMOs. Contact: housing.standards@rochdale.gov.uk or 0300 303 8874. | Freely available to download from the council website. Described as frequently updated and accurate at time of publication.

Open the public register

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 (72/100)

Sources checked

Research notes

Multiple official council pages accessed and cross-referenced with democracy portal decision records and NRLA reporting. Scheme designation date, consultation period, start date and 5-year duration confirmed from multiple sources. Fees confirmed from official council directory record page. Selective licensing non-implementation confirmed from both the council website and Cabinet decision documents. Public register confirmed with download URL. Only minor gaps remain: exact file format of register download, whether any early-bird or accreditation discounts exist for the 2025 scheme, and the precise contractual end date (calculated as 28 April 2030 based on 5-year duration from 29 April 2025 start).

Council contact details

Email: LandlordLicensing@rochdale.gov.uk
Phone: 0300 303 8874
Address: Private Sector Housing, Number One Riverside, Smith Street, Rochdale OL16 1XU

Important to verify

Exact end date of additional licensing scheme (calculated as approximately 28 April 2030 from 5-year duration)
File format of HMO register download (PDF vs spreadsheet)
Whether any accreditation or early-bird discounts apply to the 2025 additional licensing scheme
Any recent council change that could affect the current public summary.

Supporting sources

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 Rochdale Metropolitan Borough 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 Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council.

Council-specific HMO detail we currently show

Applies across the entire Borough of Rochdale for all qualifying HMOs

Fee notes: Same fee structure as additional licensing: £1,011 base application fee plus £53 per habitable room inspection fee. Example: 10 habitable rooms = £1,541 total for 5 years. VAT is not payable. No accreditation discount mentioned on council website
Typical licence term: Up to 5 years (shorter periods may be granted in certain circumstances)

National mandatory scheme under Part 2 of the Housing Act 2004. Separate applications required per property. Licences are non-transferable. Appeals against refusals or conditions may be made to the Residential Property Tribunal. Property types covered: HMOs with 5 or more occupants forming 2 or more households, as required under the Housing Act 2004 (as amended October 2018). Exemptions or exclusions: Properties listed in Schedule 14 of the Housing Act 2004. Includes buildings entirely occupied by freeholders or long leaseholders, two-person two-household occupancies, properties managed by local authorities, registered social landlords, police, fire brigade, health service bodies, educational institutions, religious communities, prisons, and asylum seeker centres.

View HMO licensing info on council website

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

View full compliance checklist →

Common questions about licensing in Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council

Do I need a landlord licence in Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council?: Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council currently operates additional HMO 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 Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council?: Based on our current data, licence fees in Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council are approximately: Additional Licensing Scheme for 3 and 4 Person HMOs (Borough-Wide): Standard base application fee is £1,011 plus £53 per habitable room inspection fee. Example: 10 habitable rooms = £1,011 + £530 = £1,541 total for 5 years (£308.20/year). VAT is not payable on licence fees. Fees are non-refundable if a licence is refused. No accreditation discount or early bird discount mentioned on council website; Mandatory HMO Licensing: Same fee structure as additional licensing: £1,011 base application fee plus £53 per habitable room inspection fee. Example: 10 habitable rooms = £1,541 total for 5 years. VAT is not payable. No accreditation discount mentioned on council website. 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 Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council?: Yes. Mandatory HMO licensing applies across all of England, including Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council. It covers properties with 5 or more occupiers forming 2 or more separate households. You must apply to Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council for a mandatory HMO licence if your property meets these criteria.
What happens if I rent without a licence in Rochdale Metropolitan Borough 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 Rochdale Metropolitan Borough 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 additional licensing rules→

Read the guide if you want the broader background on how additional HMO licensing works alongside this council page.

Need the local HMO route→

Use the additional licensing page if the real question is whether a smaller shared house needs a local licence here.

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.