Merseyside · Council licensing
Wirral operates discretionary property licensing. Letting an unlicensed property where a scheme applies risks a civil penalty of up to £30,000 and a rent repayment order — check whether your property is covered below.
Required for any HMO let to 5 or more people forming 2+ households who share facilities. Check the council for the current fee.
Wirral Council operates two active Selective Licensing Schemes covering 10+ designated areas across Birkenhead and Wallasey. The 2020-25 SCHEME (1 October 2020 to 30 September 2025) has now ENDED and been replaced. The 2024-29 SCHEME runs from 1 October 2024 until 31 March 2029, covering parts of Birkenhead and Wallasey including renewals of the Bidstone & St James West and Birkenhead West areas plus new areas in Egremont North and Seacombe St Paul's. The 2025-30 SCHEME was approved by Wirral Council's Economy, Regeneration and Housing Committee on 17 June 2025 (designation made 24 June 2025) and came into force on 1 October 2025, running until 30 September 2030. Licences for the 2025 scheme were available to purchase from 16 September 2025. The 2025-30 scheme designates SIX new areas, namely parts of Birkenhead and Wallasey at Lower Super Output Area level: Area 1 Birkenhead Central (LSOA E01007128) covering streets including Beckwith Street East, Borough Road, Brookland Road, Cardigan Avenue, Carlisle Mews, Circular Road and many others; plus five further LSOA-defined areas across Birkenhead and Wallasey. A selective licence is required for any privately rented property situated within the designated LSOAs at any time during the designation period — including smaller HMOs (3-4 occupants) that fall outside mandatory licensing. The selective licence fee for the 2025-30 scheme was approved at £605 per property by the June 2025 committee decision. A £50 accreditation discount is available for landlords accredited with Wirral Council Property Accreditation, NRLA, the Guild of Residential Landlords, ARLA Fellow or other approved schemes. Paper applications attract an additional £100 administration fee. Operating an unlicensed selective property exposes the landlord to prosecution under section 95(1) of the Housing Act 2004 with an unlimited fine, or to a civil penalty of up to £30,000 under section 249A, plus Rent Repayment Orders of up to 12 months rent under sections 96-97.
Areas: Multiple areas including Birkenhead South, Egerton North, Egremont South, Egremont Promenade South, Seacombe Library, Tranmere Lairds (2020-25 scheme), Bidston and St James West, Birkenhead West, Egremont North, Seacombe St Paul's (2024-29 scheme), and areas covered by 2025-2030 scheme
Fee: £605
Scheme runs until: 30 September 2030
No additional licensing scheme is currently in force.
Source: Wirral licensing page →
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.
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