What is a public licensing register?

It is the list a council keeps of properties it has licensed under the Housing Act 2004, such as mandatory HMO, additional HMO, and selective licences. Councils are required to keep this register and make it available to the public, although the format and how easy it is to use varies a lot between councils.

How do I search a council's licensing register by address?

Where a council provides a searchable online register, you can usually enter a street or postcode to see whether the property is listed. Where the register is only published as a downloadable file, open the file and search within it for the address. If no online register is available, contact the council and ask it to confirm whether the address is recorded.

Does a public register cover HMO and selective licences?

It depends on the council. Some publish a single register covering mandatory HMO, additional HMO, and selective licences; others keep separate registers, and some only publish an HMO register. Always confirm what the register you are looking at actually covers before relying on it.

Can I rely on a public register to confirm a property is licensed?

Treat the register as a strong indicator, not a guarantee. Registers can lag behind recent applications, may exclude pending or exempt properties, and accuracy is usually only stated as correct at the publication date. The council source should be treated as the source of truth, and you should confirm directly where the decision matters.

Public Licensing Registers Explained - How to Find and Check One

Public licensing registers explained

Every council in England that licenses rented property must keep a public register of the licences it has granted. It is one of the most useful tools for checking whether a specific property is licensed - but the way councils publish these registers varies enormously, from slick searchable portals to a single PDF you have to read line by line.

This guide explains what a public licensing register is, the different ways councils make them available, how to search one by address, what they do and do not include, and where they fall short so you know when to verify directly with the council.

At a glance

Councils must keep a public register of licensed properties under the Housing Act 2004.

How registers are published ranges from searchable portals to download-only files or email-only access.

A single register may cover HMO, additional, and selective licences - or there may be separate registers.

Registers can lag behind applications, so the council source is still the source of truth.

Find the right register fast

Start with the postcode checker to match the property to its council. Each council page shows a public register module with the register route, how it can be searched, and an official source link where we hold one.

Check a postcode Browse councils HMO licence checker

What a public licensing register is

Under the Housing Act 2004, councils that grant property licences must keep a register of them and make it available for the public to inspect. In practice this means a list of licensed addresses, usually with the licence holder, any managing agent, the licence type, and the dates it runs between. It can also record temporary exemption notices and management orders.

The register is how a tenant, buyer, or neighbour can check whether a property is licensed. It is also how a landlord can confirm an existing licence appears correctly. What the law does not standardise is how the register is published, which is where the experience differs so widely.

The different ways councils publish registers

When we research a council, we record how its register can be accessed, because it changes how quickly you can get an answer. The common patterns are:

Searchable online register - a portal you can search by address or postcode. The quickest and most reliable to use.
Postcode or address search - a focused lookup that returns whether a specific property is licensed.
Download only - a CSV, spreadsheet, or PDF you open and search within. Workable, but it can be a large file and is only current as at its publication date.
Map only - a map view of licensed properties or designated areas, which can be harder to use for a specific address.
Email request only - no public file at all, so you have to email the council and wait for confirmation.
No clear public route - where we cannot find a published register, which usually means contacting the council directly.

On our council pages we summarise this as a register usability indicator, from a clear searchable register through to no clear public route found, so you know what to expect before you click through. You can also compare every council in the register usability league table.

How to search a register by address

Use the postcode checker to confirm the council, then open the council page to find its register route.
If the register is searchable, enter the street or postcode and look for the exact address, including the correct flat or room reference.
If the register is a download, open the file and search within it for the address. Check the publication date so you know how current it is.
If there is no online register, contact the council's housing or private rented sector team and ask it to confirm whether the address is recorded and under which licence type.

What a register does and does not include

A register tells you what the council has licensed. It does not always tell you the full picture, so keep these limits in mind:

Scope varies. Some registers cover mandatory HMO, additional, and selective licences together; others are HMO only. Confirm what the register in front of you actually covers.
Timing lag. A recent application may not appear yet, and an expired licence may still be listed. Accuracy is usually only stated as correct at the publication date.
Redactions. Some councils remove licence-holder contact details from the public version for privacy.
Exemptions. A property may be unlicensed because it is exempt rather than because it is non-compliant.

If there is no public register

A missing online register does not mean a property is unlicensed - it usually just means the council has not published a searchable version. Email the housing or private rented sector team, ask which register applies, whether the address appears on it, and which licence type is recorded. Keep a dated note of who you contacted and what they said.

If you are tracking a council where a scheme is proposed or at consultation, the licensing changes tracker shows where the position may be about to change.

What to verify directly with the council

Which register applies and what licence types it covers.
Whether the exact address, flat, or room reference is recorded.
How recently the register was updated or published.
Whether any exemption, temporary exemption notice, or pending application applies.
Which official page or team the council wants you to use for register checks.

A public register is a strong starting point, but the council source should be treated as the source of truth. This guide is general information and is not legal advice.

Want the register route done for you?

If you would rather have the licensing position and the register route documented for a specific property, a written review or due diligence report can do the legwork and record the official sources.

Property Licensing Check

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A concise written review for one property, postcode, or council situation based on current public council-source information.

Best for: Best for landlords, agents, and buyers who want written clarity quickly on one case.

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Licensing Due Diligence Report

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

Best for: Best for buyers, investors, agents, landlords refinancing, and conveyancers handling material decisions.

See the premium report