How to check if your landlord has a licence

Licensing in England is managed by local councils, not a national body. The first step is to identify which council area your property falls in. You can do this using the free postcode checker on this site.

Enter your postcode and the checker will match it to the relevant council, then show whether our data indicates any active licensing schemes in that area.

There are three main types of property licensing in England:

• Mandatory HMO licensing - applies across all of England to houses in multiple occupation with five or more people forming two or more households. Read the HMO licensing guide for more detail.
• Selective licensing - a council-run scheme that applies to standard privately rented properties in designated areas, regardless of whether the property is an HMO. Read the selective licensing guide.
• Additional HMO licensing - extends HMO licensing to smaller shared properties that would not be caught by the mandatory rules. Read the additional licensing guide.

Councils that operate licensing schemes are required to maintain a register of licensed properties. Most councils publish this online. You can usually search by address or postcode to check whether a specific property holds a valid licence.

To find the register for your area, open the council directory and select your council. Where we have a link to the public register, it will be shown on the council page.

If you cannot find a public register online, contact the council's housing or private rented sector team directly and ask whether the property at your address is listed.

If the council does not publish a searchable register, ask it to confirm which register applies, whether the address appears on it, and whether any selective, additional or mandatory HMO licence is recorded for the property. Keep a note of the date, the council team contacted and the source you were directed to.

If your property is in an area where licensing is required and your landlord does not appear on the register, there are a few options:

• Report it to the council. The council can investigate and take 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.
• Consider a rent repayment order. If your landlord has been operating without a required licence, this may be relevant. 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.
• Seek advice. If you are unsure about your rights, contact Shelter, Citizens Advice, or a local housing rights service for guidance.

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. Licensing problems may also affect the possession route, but the correct position depends on the facts and timing. Check official guidance or get advice before relying on this.

• Whether the property address is inside a current licensing area.
• Whether the licence register is up to date and searchable online.
• Whether the property type, number of occupiers or households changes the answer.
• Whether any exemption, temporary exemption notice or pending application is recorded.
• Which team or official page the council wants tenants to use for licence checks.

Licensing is just one part of what landlords are legally required to do. Even if no licence is needed, your landlord must still comply with requirements around gas safety, electrical safety, EPC ratings, deposit protection, and more. See the landlord compliance checklist for a full overview.