Landlord licensing in Rochdale Borough Council

Licensing at a glance

HMO licensing

Mandatory HMO licensing applies borough-wide to Houses in Multiple Occupation occupied by five or more persons forming two or more households, who share facilities such as a kitchen, bathroom, or toilet.

Additional licensing

Additional licensing currently covers Houses in Multiple Occupation occupied by three or four unrelated persons forming two or more households, who share facilities such as a kitchen, bathroom, or toilet, across the whole of the borough.

Selective licensing

Selective licensing operates in several designated areas, including Milkstone and Deeplish, Newbold Brow, and parts of Smallbridge and Falinge. Landlords of all privately rented properties in these areas must obtain a licence unless specifically exempted.

Typical fees

Around £800 for a five-year mandatory HMO licence.

Towns covered

Rochdale

What this means for you

Landlords in Rochdale must comply with general housing standards and landlord and tenant law, including the Renters' Rights Act 2025. This Act introduces a legal requirement for privately rented properties to meet the Decent Homes Standard, strengthens tenants' rights, abolishes Section 21 'no-fault' evictions, and requires all new tenancies to be periodic. Mandatory electrical safety checks are required every five years, and landlords must have a valid gas safety certificate where applicable. Properties must have working smoke alarms on each storey and carbon monoxide alarms in rooms with a fixed combustion appliance, excluding gas cookers.

Official links

• Licensing pages
• Council website