Landlord licensing in Sefton Council

Licensing at a glance

HMO licensing

Mandatory HMO licensing applies to any property let to five or more people forming two or more households who share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet.

Additional licensing

Additional licensing can extend licensing to smaller HMOs. Sefton Council has previously operated additional licensing schemes, so always confirm the current designations for the specific property address.

Selective licensing

Selective licensing can require a licence for every private rented home in a designated area, including single family lets. Sefton Council currently has an active city-wide selective licensing scheme, so check if your property requires a licence.

Towns covered

Sefton

What this means for you

If you let a property in the Sefton Council area, first confirm which licensing regime the exact address falls under. Mandatory HMO licensing applies to any property let to five or more people forming two or more households who share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet. Additional licensing can extend licensing to smaller HMOs. Designations run for up to five years and are ward or street specific, so confirm the position for the exact address. Selective licensing can require a licence for every private rented home in a designated area, including single family lets. Check the current designations before you advertise. The Renters' Rights Act 2025, with main provisions commencing in 2026, replaces fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies with periodic assured tenancies, ends section 21 no-fault evictions, and introduces a national landlord database and ombudsman. Whatever the licensing position, keep the same evidence pack for every Sefton Council tenancy: a current gas safety record where there is gas, an EICR no more than five years old, a valid EPC, working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, deposit protection and prescribed information, and the required prescribed documents served before the tenancy starts.

Official links

• Licensing pages
• Council website