Greater Manchester · Council licensing
Landlord licensing in Wigan
✓ Hand-verified 4 Aug 2026Beyond mandatory HMO licensing, Wigan does not currently operate a selective or additional licensing scheme. Here's the current position.
Required for any HMO let to 5 or more people forming 2+ households who share facilities.
Wigan sets this fee under section 63(3) of the Housing Act 2004. Its current charge is not yet recorded here.
The council’s own licensing page carries the charge that applies today — confirm it there before you budget.
Not established is not the same as free.
Wigan does not operate a selective licensing scheme. The council states plainly that there are no selective licensing schemes currently in operation in the borough. It has been running an options appraisal to assess whether selective licensing would be appropriate and, if so, which areas would be suitable, with a Cabinet decision taken in March 2025; no designation has followed. Selective licensing would require every privately rented home in a designated area to hold a licence regardless of how many people occupy it, so until a designation is made a landlord letting an ordinary flat or house in Wigan needs no property licence on that basis. Because the council has actively appraised the option, a landlord should recheck the position before starting a new tenancy rather than treat it as settled. Mandatory HMO licensing continues to apply wherever a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households who share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet.
Wigan Council does not operate an additional HMO licensing scheme. Smaller HMOs with 3-4 occupants are not subject to discretionary licensing across the Metropolitan Borough. Only mandatory HMO licensing applies for HMOs with 5+ occupants under Part 2 of the Housing Act 2004. HMOs must be free of significant hazards under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) and adhere to the council's HMO Standards covering minimum room sizes, amenity standards and fire safety requirements. Licence holders must also comply with the council's scheme for recycling, storage and disposal of household waste. Licences are issued for a period of 5 years.
Common questions
Does Wigan have a selective licensing scheme?
No. Wigan does not currently operate a selective licensing scheme. Mandatory HMO licensing still applies wherever a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households.
Does Wigan have an additional HMO licensing scheme?
No. Wigan does not currently operate an additional HMO licensing scheme. Mandatory HMO licensing still applies wherever a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households.
Do I need an HMO licence in Wigan?
A mandatory HMO licence is required anywhere in England and Wales, including Wigan, where a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households who share basic amenities. Smaller shared houses may also need a licence where an additional licensing scheme applies.
- Free landlord compliance check — five questions, no account
- Tenancy agreement checker — findings cited to the Act and section
All property licensing in Greater Manchester →
Source: Wigan licensing page →
Every landlord in Wigan also needs
A valid Gas Safety certificate (annual), an EICR (every 5 years), a valid EPC, a protected deposit, smoke & CO alarms, the Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet, and a current How to Rent guide — plus the new Section 8 possession rules since Section 21 was abolished on 1 May 2026.
Check your Wigan property in 30 seconds
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