Liverpool residents are being invited to have their say on the future of a scheme designed to improve standards in the private rented housing sector.
Selective Licensing – known in Liverpool as Landlord Licensing – requires landlords in designated areas to obtain a licence and meet standards relating to property management, property condition and tenant safety. The current scheme ends in March 2027, and the Council is consulting on options for a future scheme before any decision is made.
The 10-week consultation, which closes on 5 October 2026, is being independently managed by Opinion Research Services (ORS).
Since the current scheme launched in April 2022, more than 56,000 licence applications have been received and over 48,000 licences granted. More than 19,000 inspections have been carried out, uncovering over 3,500 housing hazards and leading to more than 1,100 enforcement notices.
However, the Council’s evidence suggests challenges remain in parts of the city, including poor housing conditions, anti-social behaviour, deprivation and neighbourhood decline.
The three options being consulted on are:
- Citywide scheme (64 wards) – Introduce Selective Licensing across all Liverpool wards to tackle issues linked to low housing demand and provide consistent standards across the city.
- Deprivation-based scheme (29 wards) – Focus licensing on areas experiencing some of the highest levels of deprivation, where poor housing conditions and wider social challenges are more prevalent.
- Poor Property Conditions scheme (26 wards) – Target areas with higher concentrations of private rented housing and evidence of poorer housing conditions and disrepair.
The consultation is also seeking views on proposed licence conditions, fees and discounts.
Residents, tenants, landlords and other stakeholders can take part by completing the online questionnaire, attending consultation events, requesting information packs or submitting written responses.
The consultation closes on Monday 5 October 2026.
To view the consultation documents and complete the questionnaire, visit: https://liverpool.gov.uk/selectivelicensingconsultation.
