North West
HMO licensing in Liverpool
Liverpool City Council requires a mandatory licence for HMOs occupied by 5 or more people from 2 or more households. It also runs selective licensing in designated areas, covering privately rented homes that are not licensable HMOs. The published licence fee starts at £1,328.
Mandatory licence
5+ people, 2+ households
National scheme
Additional / selective
Selective
Council-designated schemes
Licence fee
From £1,328
Decision time
Not published
Licensing schemes in Liverpool
Liverpool consulted from 27 July to 5 October 2026 on a new selective licensing scheme for 2027-2032, with three options (city-wide on low housing demand, or targeted on deprivation, or on poor property conditions). The consultation window has now closed; as of 12 October 2026 the council has not published a Cabinet decision or a new designation, so no 2027-2032 scheme is yet confirmed. The current selective scheme (39 wards, started 1 April 2022) ends in March 2027.
- Announced
- 27 July 2026
- Consultation closes
- 5 October 2026
Verified 12 October 2026
Licence fees
The published fee for a new HMO licence is £1,328, and £1,328 to renew. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.
HMO licence (5+ occupants, 2+ households), up to 5 units of accommodation, new licence or renewal for up to 5 years (same fee): Payment 1 £489.10 (administration, non-refundable, with application) + Payment 2 £838.90 (requested when council ready to grant) = £1,328. Larger: 6 units £1,449, 7 £1,570, 8 £1,691, 9 £1,811, 10 £1,932; 10+ add £60 per unit up to max £3,620. Shorter licences: Payment 1 £489.10 plus Payment 2 at 40% (1-year) or 70% (3-year). No discounts listed.
Fee source: liverpool.gov.uk (checked 2 October 2026). Fees change during the year, so check the council before you apply.
Additional and selective licence fees
Fees for council-designated schemes are set separately from the mandatory HMO fee. Figures are the standard full-rate fee for a new licence, before any discounts.
Selective licence
£704
Full property licence fee for a single privately rented property in the designated wards, standard rate, paid in two parts (initial £232.32 + final £471.68)
Reduced 'new rental property' rate of £486 for properties new to the rental market after 31 July 2022 (apply before tenanting or within 14 days). Further discounts: £64 for EPC band C or above; £64 for flats in a block all licensed by the same holder; £37 for membership of recognised landlord bodies; no fee for landlords housing homeless households via the council's Housing Options service. Lowest published combined rate £321.
Scheme: From 1 April 2022
Checked 2 October 2026 against liverpool.gov.uk
Documents you will need
- Gas safety certificate (CP12) — Within the last 12 months for every gas appliance on the property.
- EICR — Electrical Installation Condition Report, dated within the last five years.
- EPC — Valid Energy Performance Certificate for the property.
- Floor plan with room dimensions — To scale, showing every room and its floor area against the HMO minimums.
- Fire risk assessment — Current assessment of the property's means of escape, alarms and compartmentation.
Sources
Compiled from the council’s own published pages and documents; data reviewed September 2026. Rules and fees change, so always confirm with Liverpool City Council before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.