Property licensing in the North West

At a glance

• Selective licensing (every privately rented home in the area needs a licence): Burnley Borough Council, Liverpool City Council, Manchester City Council, Salford City Council.
• Additional HMO licensing (smaller shared houses, usually 3 or 4 people from 2 or more households): none of the councils we track in the North West.

Mandatory HMO licensing applies in every council area in England: a licence is needed for a house shared by 5 or more people forming 2 or more households.

Council by council

Burnley Borough Council

• Selective licensing: Burnley Wood with Healey Wood, and the Leyland Road areas. From 21 July 2022 to 20 July 2027. Fee: £736 online application; £661 if you have previously held a licence in Burnley.
• Selective licensing: Gannow, Trinity, Queensgate, Padiham and Daneshouse areas. From 27 April 2025 to 26 April 2030. Fee: £774 online application; £692 if you have previously held a licence in Burnley.

Full details for Burnley Borough Council, including how to apply and penalties.

Liverpool City Council

• Selective licensing: Designated wards covering around 80% of the city's private rented sector; use the council postcode look-up to check an address. From 1 April 2022. Fee: £704 full property licence; reduced fees from £321 to £486 for new rental properties, EPC C or above, flats in the same block and landlord body membership; no fee for landlords helping the council meet its homelessness duties.

Full details for Liverpool City Council, including how to apply and penalties.

Manchester City Council

• Selective licensing: Gorton and Abbey Hey (Hyde Road and The Ladders), Clayton and Openshaw (Ben Street) and Harpurhey (Trinity). From 1 May 2022 to 30 April 2027. Fee: £798 full fee (£402 application, £396 grant); £694 subsequent application.
• Selective licensing: Rusholme (Laindon/Dickenson Road and Birch Lane), Levenshulme (Matthews Lane), Moss Side (Great Western Street/Claremont Road) and Longsight (The Royals). From 9 August 2023 to 8 August 2028. Fee: £936 full fee (£490 application, £446 grant); £828 subsequent application.
• Selective licensing: Cheetham (flats above shops and Esmond/Avondale area), Crumpsall (Enver Road area), Miles Platting and Newton Heath (Droylsden Road and Scotland Street areas), Longsight (Heathcote/Sanby Road and Northmoor Road areas)…. From 24 May 2025 to 23 May 2030. Fee: £964 full fee (£469 application, £495 grant); £864 subsequent application (the £764 early-bird rate applied only to applications made 24 February to 23 May 2025).

Full details for Manchester City Council, including how to apply and penalties.

Salford City Council

• Selective licensing: Listed streets in Eccles, Barton and Winton (shown on the council's interactive map). From 1 September 2022 to 1 September 2027. Fee: £609 first application; £589 subsequent application (applications from 2 March 2023).
• Selective licensing: Broughton, Kersal and Broughton Park area. From 21 January 2026 to 21 January 2031. Fee: £609 first application for non-accredited landlords applying from 22 July 2026.

Full details for Salford City Council, including how to apply and penalties.

How to check whether your property needs a licence

1. Find the council for the property’s address. Our licensing checker suggests the likely council from the postcode.
2. Check which schemes cover the street. Schemes often cover only some wards, so use the council’s own map or postcode search.
3. Apply before you let the property, or as soon as a new scheme starts. Councils can impose a civil penalty or prosecute for an unlicensed property, and tenants can apply for a rent repayment order.

New to this? Read HMO licensing explained, and keep your gas safety, EICR and EPC dates in order with our compliance record. This page is general information, not legal advice.