Additional HMO licensing in Sefton
Yes. Sefton operates an additional HMO licensing scheme. Letting a covered property without a licence risks a civil penalty of up to £40,000 and a rent repayment order of up to two years' rent.
Common questions
Do I need an additional HMO licence in Sefton?
Yes. Sefton operates an additional HMO licensing scheme. Letting a covered property without a licence risks a civil penalty of up to £40,000 and a rent repayment order of up to two years' rent.
Which areas of Sefton does the scheme cover?
Parts of Seaforth, Waterloo, Brighton-le-Sands and Southport. Confirm a specific address against the council's own designation map before applying.
When does Sefton's scheme end?
The designation runs until 29 February 2028, unless the council revokes it earlier under section 84 of the Housing Act 2004.
What does the licence cost?
£950 from 1. Councils commonly discount for accredited landlords and early applications; confirm the current figure with Sefton before budgeting.
One payment.
Sefton, read 31 August 2026
What the designation says
Sefton Council operates an ADDITIONAL (HMO) LICENSING scheme covering parts of Seaforth, Waterloo, Brighton-le-Sands and central Southport. The scheme was originally introduced in March 2018 and was re-designated by Council Cabinet on 18 October 2022 following a 3-month consultation that ended 31 July 2022. The current re-designated scheme came into force on 1 March 2023 and runs for 5 years, and the public legal notice states it ceases to have effect on 28 February 2028. Confirmed via Sefton Council's own published page (sefton.gov.uk/housing/private-sector-housing/landlord-licensing-and-accreditation/additional-hmo-licensing-2023-2028) and the Cabinet decision record (modgov.sefton.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?Id=11367). Applies to ALL types of HMO under sections 254 and 257 Housing Act 2004 within the designated areas (so includes smaller HMOs that fall outside mandatory 5+ person scheme). An estimated 33% of Sefton's private rented HMO accommodation is in Waterloo/Seaforth and central Southport. Landlords must demonstrate fit and proper status, satisfactory management arrangements, and meet a range of licence conditions including annual gas safety records. Council estimated by end of scheme it would issue ~240 additional HMO licences (195 already issued by August 2021 under previous scheme). Application deadline for current scheme was 1 September 2023 - rigorous enforcement against unlicensed properties since.
What this means for a landlord
A licence must be in place before the property is let, not applied for afterwards. Operating unlicensed in a designated area is a criminal offence: a civil penalty of up to £40,000 per offence and a rent repayment order of up to two years' rent. Both maxima apply to conduct on or after 1 May 2026; before that date they were £30,000 and twelve months. Section 21 was abolished on 1 May 2026 and possession now runs through the amended section 8 grounds. Mandatory HMO licensing applies separately and everywhere, wherever a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households.
Information tool, not legal advice. Confirm the position with Sefton before letting.