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Council websiteLandlord licensing in St. Helens
North West
We currently show scheme records, official links, and supporting research for this council.
Selective Licensing
No active selective scheme shown
Additional Licensing
No active additional scheme shown
Mandatory HMO Licensing
Active mandatory HMO
Current status summary
What we currently show
No active local selective or additional licensing scheme is currently shown in our data. This page combines scheme records, official verification links, and supporting local research. This public page currently has 3 sources linked or recorded.
What you still need to verify
Check live council wording for scheme boundaries, fees, dates, exemptions, application steps and whether the property setup changes the answer.
Official sources
A licensing page is available and should be treated as the main verification route.
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 St. Helens.
Council updates
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We will email you if St. Helens introduces, renews, or changes a licensing scheme. Free, occasional updates only. Always verify final requirements on the council website.
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If you are still unsure
Keep the informational journey first. Use the free checker, the £29 review, or alerts only if you want help resolving uncertainty or tracking future change.
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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 St. Helens
Enter a postcode to see whether it appears to fall within a licensing scheme area, then verify the result with the council.
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
28 March 2026
Research confidence
High (80/100)
Sources checked
3
Research notes
Multiple official St Helens Council pages and the dedicated licensing portal were successfully fetched. The absence of selective and additional licensing is confirmed by multiple independent sources including the council's own pages, third-party landlord guidance sites (Legislate.tech, V6 Property Management), and a web search specifically for 'St Helens selective licensing'. The £239 annual fee for 2025/2026 was confirmed directly from the housinglicensing.sthelens.gov.uk portal. Contact details confirmed across multiple council pages. Key remaining gap is whether any fee discounts exist (none identified but not explicitly ruled out - the portal login area may contain discount information not visible in public-facing pages).
Council contact details
- Phone
- 01744 676789
- Address
- Contact Centre, Wesley House, Corporation Street, St Helens, WA10 1HF
Register access
Public RegisterAvailable Searchable
The public register is available via the housing licensing portal. Searches can be conducted by postcode, name, address, licence number, or reference.
Important to verify
- Whether any fee discounts or accreditation reductions exist for mandatory HMO licensing (none found on public-facing pages)
- Year 6 renewal fee amount (not separately confirmed)
- Whether the council has any future plans to introduce selective or additional licensing (none announced as of March 2026)
- 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 St. Helens council.
Council-specific HMO detail we currently show
Boroughwide - applies to all qualifying HMOs throughout St Helens Metropolitan Borough.
- HMO fee guide
- £239
- Fee notes
- £239
- Typical licence term
- 5-year licence with annual renewal applications. Year 1: full new application (~60 minutes to complete). Years 2-5: reduced annual renewal applications. Year 6: full renewal application.
- Start date shown
- 1 July 2006
This is the only active landlord licensing scheme in St Helens Borough. The council uses the dedicated portal housinglicensing.sthelens.gov.uk for applications and renewals. The Housing Standards Team is responsible for enforcement. A landlord in Peasley Cross was fined £7,500 for operating an unlicensed HMO. 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 and former tenants may apply to the First-tier Tribunal for a rent repayment order. GOV.UK guidance now refers to up to two years' rent for relevant offences. 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.
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 St. Helens
- Do I need a landlord licence in St. Helens?
- Our current data does not show active selective or additional licensing schemes in St. Helens. However, mandatory HMO licensing still applies across England to properties with 5 or more occupiers forming 2 or more households. Always verify with the council as schemes can change.
- How much does a property licence cost in St. Helens?
- Based on our current data, licence fees in St. Helens are approximately: Mandatory HMO Licensing: £239. 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 St. Helens?
- Yes. Mandatory HMO licensing applies across all of England, including St. Helens. It covers properties with 5 or more occupiers forming 2 or more separate households. You must apply to St. Helens council for a mandatory HMO licence if your property meets these criteria.
- What happens if I rent without a licence in St. Helens?
- 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 St. Helens 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.
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.