All private landlords in the city must obtain a licence for each of their rented properties. This scheme has been introduced under the government's selective licensing laws and signing up for it is compulsory.
The scheme will ensure that licensed landlords in the city are 'fit and proper'. Before they are granted a licence we'll be asking landlords to declare convictions for dishonesty, violence or drug-related offences, or breaches of housing, landlord or tenant laws.
Licensed landlords' properties must meet fire, electric and gas safety standards and be in a good state of repair. Licensed landlords must be able to deal effectively with any complaints about their tenants.
Will the scheme 'weed out' bad landlords?
If someone cannot meet the 'fit and proper' landlord criteria the scheme sets out, they will be refused a licence. Bad landlords who do not invest in their properties or manage them properly will move out of the market making Liverpool an attractive prospect for good landlords.
The scheme will improve the rental market in Liverpool by raising standards and helping to identify non-compliant landlords and management agents who do not invest in their properties.
Landlords will also benefit from a more professional and robust market with more sustainable, longer-term tenancies.
How much will a licence cost?
Following the Hemming and Gaskin court cases, we have changed the way our Landlord Licence fees are charged. The first payment is a non-refundable administration fee. The second payment is for compliance and it must be paid 14 days after the licence has been granted.
First property - £412
Initial payment: £206 non-refundable fee due with application.
Final payment: £206 due within 14 days of licence being granted.
Each additional property - £360
Initial payment: £180 non-refundable fee due with application.
Final payment: £180 due within 14 days of licence being granted.
Properties approved by co-regulation organisations - £200
Initial payment: £200 non-refundable fee due with application.
Final payment: No further payment required.
Exemptions
Properties with an HMO licence are exempt. There are also a number of other circumstances which may mean you do not have to licence a property.
• Please read the full list of exemptions to find out more.
Member discounts
The three organisations below are our 'co-regulators' who work with us to make sure their members meet our licence conditions.
• Association of Residential Letting Agents.
• National Approved Letting Scheme.
• Residential Landlords Association Co-regulation Scheme
How do I claim a member discount?
If you are a member of one of the organisations above, you'll get a unique reference number when you opt into their co-regulating conditions. This number allows you to apply for a Landlord Licence at a discounted rate.
The discount is made possible because you have already committed to meeting certain standards and we have fewer compliance checks to make as a result.
The council commissioned an independent review of the current co-regulation scheme in July 2019.
• View the review of the co-regulation scheme
Can a member discount be refused?
You must be a member before you apply for a licence - we cannot offer 'retrospective' discounts. If you stop being a member we will recover the full fee.
We have the right to refuse a discount - for instance, if action has been, or is being, taken against you in respect of an unlicensed property you want to licence.
The final decision rests with us, but if you are unhappy with our decision you can use the council's complaints procedure to tell them why.
