Selective licensing in Wirral

Yes. Wirral operates a selective licensing scheme. Letting a covered property without a licence risks a civil penalty of up to £30,000, a rent repayment order of up to twelve months' rent, and the loss of the right to serve a section 21 notice.

Legal basis
Housing Act 2004, section 80
Areas covered
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
In force from
1 July 2015
Runs until
31 March 2029
Licence fee
£605
Last verified
23 May 2026

What the designation says

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.

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 £30,000 per offence, a rent repayment order of up to twelve months' rent, and a section 21 notice that cannot be served while the property is unlicensed. Mandatory HMO licensing applies separately and everywhere, wherever a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households.

Wirral's own licensing page →

Free compliance audit →Five questions, no sign-up. Every duty that applies to your property, licensing included.Check your tenancy agreement →Unlicensed letting invalidates a section 21 notice. We check the agreement against current law.

Information tool, not legal advice. Confirm the position with Wirral before letting.