Licence Checker England

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Property Licensing Check

A property-specific PDF report you can save, forward to your solicitor, or put on the tenancy file. We do the cross-referencing, you get a dated artefact with a reference number, the council's contact details, and a copy-pasteable enquiry email tailored to your situation.

£29PDF report by email, usually within a few minutesDated PDF with reference numberInformation service, not legal advice

Why people pay for this

The free site tells you what schemes exist. The paid report tells you what they mean for your specific property — and gives you a dated PDF you can put on the file.

  • You get the cross-referencing done for you: postcode, scheme, property type, intended use, all mapped out in one place.
  • You get a PDF artefact with a reference number, timestamp, sources, and disclaimers — suitable for forwarding to a solicitor or lender.
  • You get a copy-pasteable enquiry email tailored to your situation, addressed to the right council team, with the right questions.
  • You get a clear view of what is at stake if licensing applies and is missed — civil penalties up to £30,000 per offence, plus Rent Repayment Orders.

Who it is for

  • Buy-to-let purchasers during conveyancing who need a written licensing position to forward to their solicitor before exchange.
  • Landlords letting a property for the first time, or after a property type change, who want the position on file before tenants move in.
  • Letting agents and brokers taking on a new instruction who need a written record of the licensing position for the client file.
  • Portfolio landlords who want a per-property dated record they can refer back to at renewal or sale.

What the PDF contains

  1. Outcome summary — the licensing position, confidence band, and a route-by-route verdict for mandatory HMO, additional, and selective licensing.
  2. What is at stake — the specific civil penalty, Rent Repayment Order, and banning order exposure under the Housing Act 2004, so you know why the answer matters.
  3. Next steps tailored to your situation — different to-do lists for buyers in conveyancing, HMO landlords, portfolio landlords, and single-let situations.
  4. Verifying with the council — direct contact details, current scheme fees, application links, and a copy-pasteable enquiry email you can send.
  5. Sources, reference, timestamp — the sources we consulted, frozen at the moment the report was generated, with a reference number you can quote later.

When the free checker is enough

  • You are doing early research and do not need a written record.
  • You are happy to map the property type, occupancy, and scheme overlap yourself.
  • You do not need a dated PDF to forward to a third party.

How it works

  • Tell us the property details on this page — postcode, intended use, optional address.
  • Pay securely through Stripe (£29, one-off, no subscription).
  • Most reports are generated automatically and arrive within a few minutes. A small number that need a closer look go through human review and arrive within two working days.
  • The PDF is attached to the email, and a secure download link is valid for 30 days.

What it is not

  • It is not legal advice. For a legal opinion you would still go to a solicitor — but you would arrive with the position pre-mapped.
  • It is not a council determination. We do not approve or reject licences; the council does.
  • It does not claim a property is compliant. We summarise the public sources and signpost the action that confirms the position.

Frequently asked questions

What do I actually receive?

A branded PDF report, attached to an email, plus a secure download link valid for 30 days. The report carries a unique reference number, a timestamp, the sources we consulted, and a copy-pasteable enquiry email tailored to your situation. It is suitable for forwarding to a solicitor, lender, agent, or keeping on the tenancy file.

How fast is it?

Most reports are delivered within a few minutes of payment, fully automated. A small number that need a closer look go through a quick human review and arrive within two working days.

What if the answer is uncertain?

Honesty beats confidence. Where the public sources do not give a clear yes or no, the report says so and gives you a tailored enquiry email to send to the council, plus the contact details to send it to. The point is to get you to a written position from the council, not to bluff one.

Is this legal advice?

No. It is an information and research service. The value is the synthesis work, the dated PDF artefact, and the targeted next steps. For a legal opinion you would still go to a solicitor — but you would arrive with the position pre-mapped, not from a blank page.

Is £29 worth it?

If you are letting a property without confirming the licensing position, the downside is up to £30,000 per offence under the Housing Act 2004 plus a Rent Repayment Order of up to 12 months' rent. £29 to remove that doubt — with a dated PDF you can put on file — is cheap insurance.

Order your report

£29PDF by email, usually within a few minutes

Tell us the property details below and pay through Stripe. Your report is generated automatically and arrives by email with the PDF attached and a secure download link.

We send the report here. Use an address you can access.

What this report is, and is not

  • It summarises what public council sources showed at the time the report was generated.
  • It is an information and research service, not legal advice. We do not state that a property is or is not compliant.
  • You should still confirm the position with the relevant council before relying on the report for legal, financial or transactional decisions.

Payments are processed by Stripe. We never see your card details.

What you receive

  • A branded PDF attached to your email.
  • A secure download link valid for 30 days.
  • A reference number you can quote to council, solicitor, or lender.
  • Audience-tailored next steps and a copy-pasteable council enquiry email.

Scope guarantee

If your case is outside the scope of what the report can usefully cover, we will let you know and process a full refund. You will never be charged for a report we cannot deliver.

Still deciding between products?

If you mainly want a quick written answer, this is the lighter paid route. If the decision is more material, the £79 due diligence report gives a stronger risk-focused view. If the property is a shared house, the HMO licence checker is a useful free first step.

Compare the main options

Use this to decide whether the free tools are enough, whether a one-off review is worth it, or whether ongoing monitoring is the better fit.

Free checker

Live now

Free
Best for
Useful when you want a practical first pass on one property or area.
Delivery
Instant result with council and guide links
Good fit for portfolio users
Not usually
Open the free checker

Property Licensing Check

Live now

£29
Best for
Best for buyers in conveyancing, landlords letting a new property, and agents needing a written position they can put on file.
Delivery
PDF report by email, usually within a few minutes
Good fit for portfolio users
Not usually
Continue to secure payment

Licensing Due Diligence Report

Live now

£79
Best for
Best for buyers, investors, agents, landlords refinancing, and conveyancers handling material decisions.
Delivery
Automated due diligence report with stronger risk framing
Good fit for portfolio users
Sometimes
Request the report

These products are designed to help you assess the position more clearly. They do not replace official council confirmation or professional advice where that is needed.

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.

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