Landlord licence Liverpool: what you need, where, and what it costs
Do you need a landlord licence in Liverpool? Very likely, if you let in Liverpool. The council's selective licensing scheme covers designated wards containing around 80% of the city's private rented homes, and runs until March 2027. This page sets out every scheme Liverpool City Council currently runs, the fees as published, and how Liverpool's rented housing compares with the rest of England and Wales, using Census 2021 figures. We last re-checked the council's pages on 21 October 2026.
Published · Updated
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Liverpool landlord licensing at a glance
| Scheme | In force? | Where it applies | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selective licensing | Yes | Designated wards, around 80% of the city's private rented sector | 1 April 2022 to March 2027; replacement consulted on to 5 October 2026 |
| Additional HMO licensing | No (council lists only mandatory HMO and selective) | n/a | n/a |
| Mandatory HMO licensing | Yes | All of England | Ongoing |
Sources: Liverpool City Council pages listed under Sources, checked 21 October 2026.
How big is the private rented sector in Liverpool?
At the 2021 Census, 54,067 of Liverpool's 207,491 households rented privately. That's 26.1% of households, against 20.3% across England and Wales as a whole. By number of privately renting households, Liverpool ranked 4 of the 331 local authorities in England and Wales; by share it ranked 48. For comparison, 97,041 households (46.8%) owned their home and 54,758 (26.4%) rented socially.
Liverpool's private rented share is above the national average, and its licensing approach is unusually broad: rather than a few small areas, the designation covers most of the city's privately rented homes. That makes a licence the default expectation for a Liverpool landlord, not the exception.
Liverpool's selective licensing scheme
Liverpool City Council's current selective licensing scheme began on 1 April 2022, and the council states it "runs until March 2027". It covers designated wards that between them hold around 80% of the city's private rented sector. With the scheme due to end within months of this update, keep an eye on the council's pages for any announcement about what follows.
Discounts and exemptions in Liverpool
Liverpool publishes several reductions: a lower fee for properties new to renting, a lower fee and a £64 discount for homes with an EPC of C or better, a £64 discount for multiple flats in the same block, and a £37 discount for membership of a recognised landlord body.
What happens after March 2027 in Liverpool
Liverpool City Council ran a 10-week consultation on the future of selective licensing, which closed on 5 October 2026. Local reporting of the consultation describes three options: a citywide scheme covering all 64 wards, a scheme covering 29 wards with the highest deprivation, or one covering 26 wards with more privately rented homes and evidence of poorer conditions. The same report says more than 56,000 licence applications have been made and over 48,000 licences granted since April 2022. No decision had been published when we checked. If a new scheme is made, existing licences won't carry over, so expect to reapply.
Liverpool landlord licence fees
As published by the council: a full selective licence is £704 (£232.32 plus £471.68). A newly rented property is £486, and a property with an EPC of C or better is £422. Discounts include £64 for EPC C or above, £64 for multiple flats in the same block, and £37 for membership.
Do I need a landlord licence in Liverpool? A quick check
- Count the people and households living in the property. A household is a single person, or members of the same family living together, including couples.
- If 5 or more people from 2 or more households share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet, you need a mandatory HMO licence wherever you are in England.
- Liverpool lists no additional HMO scheme; smaller HMOs in designated wards need a selective licence instead.
- If the property is in one of the designated wards, which together contain around 80% of Liverpool's private rentals, you need a selective licence.
- If none of these apply, you don't need a property licence, but every other landlord duty (gas safety, electrical safety, EPC, deposit protection, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms) still does.
What's at stake without a Liverpool licence
Because Liverpool's designation covers around 80% of the city's private rentals, most landlords here are inside it. The council says it can punish non-compliance with civil penalty notices or prosecution, and GOV.UK says an unlicensed HMO can lead to an unlimited fine. With the scheme ending in March 2027 and a replacement under consideration, don't assume a lapse means you're in the clear: a new designation would need new applications.
Liverpool licence conditions and inspections
Liverpool's council says licences are granted subject to conditions and that officers visit licensed properties to inspect for compliance. Licences last no more than 5 years under GOV.UK's rules and can't outlast the scheme. For HMOs, GOV.UK's standard conditions include an annual gas safety certificate sent to the council, working smoke alarms and electrical safety certificates on request.
Keeping Liverpool licence paperwork in order with Gaffy
If a Liverpool officer visits, you'll want certificates and repair records to hand. Gaffy stores each property's gas safety certificate, EICR and EPC with expiry dates and flags what's due, and logs every tenant repair report with photos from a simple browser link. It costs £12 a month for up to 5 properties, plus £4 a month for each extra property, with the first month free, and we'll set your properties up for you. We don't apply for licences.
FAQ
Does all of Liverpool need a landlord licence?
Not all, but designated wards covering around 80% of the city's private rented homes do, until March 2027.
How much is a Liverpool selective licence?
£704 for a full licence, with lower fees for new rentals and homes with EPC C or better, as published by the council.
When does Liverpool's licensing scheme end?
The council says it runs until March 2027.
Are there discounts in Liverpool?
Yes, for EPC C or above, multiple flats in one block, and landlord body membership.
Will Liverpool have a new licensing scheme after 2027?
The council consulted on three options, from citywide to 26 wards, until 5 October 2026. No decision had been published when we checked on 21 October 2026.
How many people rent privately in Liverpool?
At the 2021 Census, 54,067 households in Liverpool rented privately, 26.1% of all households (ONS, Census 2021 table TS054).
Is this legal advice?
No. It's general information drawn from Liverpool City Council's published pages, checked 21 October 2026. Schemes and fees in Liverpool can change, so confirm with the council before you let or apply.
Other landlord rules
- Gas Safety Certificate for Landlords: Rules, Cost and Renewal
- EICR for Landlords: When You Need One, How Often and What C1, C2, C3 and FI Mean
- Landlord Compliance Checklist UK 2026 (Free Printable PDF)
- EPC Rules for Landlords in England and Wales: Minimum Rating, Expiry and Penalties
- Deposit Protection for Landlords: The 30-Day Rule and Prescribed Information
- Pricing
- Gas safety certificate expiry calculator
Sources
- Liverpool City Council, selective licensing fees, discounts and exemptions
- Liverpool City Council, how we monitor private sector housing conditions
- ScouseScene, report on the Liverpool selective licensing consultation
- ONS, Census 2021, TS054 Tenure, via Nomis
- GOV.UK, House in multiple occupation licence
- GOV.UK, Selective licensing in the private rented sector: a guide for local authorities
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