Landlord licensing in Trafford Council

Licensing at a glance

HMO licensing

Mandatory HMO licensing applies to all properties let to five or more people forming two or more households, sharing facilities such as a kitchen, bathroom or toilet.

Additional licensing

Additional licensing can extend licensing requirements to smaller Houses in Multiple Occupation. Designations typically run for up to five years and can be ward- or street-specific. Landlords must confirm the position for the exact address with the council.

Selective licensing

Selective licensing can require a licence for every private rented home in a designated area, including single-family lets. Landlords should check the council's current designations before advertising a property.

Typical fees

Trafford Council currently does not have any Additional or Selective Licensing schemes in operation. Therefore, no licence fees are applicable at this time. Should a scheme be introduced, fees would be published on the council's website.

Towns covered

Trafford

What this means for you

If you let a property in the Trafford Council area, the first step is to 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. Selective licensing can require a licence for every private rented home in a designated area, including single-family lets. Check the current designations before advertising. Designations, fees and boundaries can change, so check the council's own licensing pages before each new tenancy rather than relying on what applied previously. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 (main provisions commenced 2026) replaces fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies with periodic assured tenancies and ends Section 21 no-fault evictions. Keep the same evidence pack for every 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 all other prescribed documents served before the tenancy starts.

Official links

• Licensing pages
• Council website