Additional (HMO) Licensing 2023 - 2028

The new licensing regime came into force in Sefton on 1st March 2023.  You will need to apply online for a Housing Licence before 1 September 2023. 

To apply for a licence go to https://housinglicensing.sefton.gov.uk/

Note that we must receive a valid application by 1 September 2023, please be aware that after this date the Council will be undertaking a rigorous enforcement regime against any unlicensed property landlords.

Please be aware that in order to complete the application form you must have the following information to hand, you may like to prepare for this now:

• Details (including an email address) for:
  • Applicant
  • Proposed Licence Holder
  • Manager*
  • Owner / Joint Owners*
  • Long Term Tenant(s) / Leaseholder(s)*
  • Any other person willing to be bound by the conditions of the licence
  • Mortgage Provider(s)* 

* Note: you will be required to provide this information for each individual self-contained unit within the building (excluding any that are occupied by the owner).

Please note that you must inform these people of your intention to apply for a housing licence before submitting your application. You will be asked to provide the date on which you (the Applicant) informed them.

• Knowledge of  any criminal record, relating to the:
  • Proposed Licence Holder
  • Manager
• Details of any accreditations held by the Proposed Licence Holder.
• Knowledge of the existing Planning (and Building Regulations) status of the property to be licensed.
• Details regarding the facilities and amenities of the house
• Floor plan of property
• Details of any tenancy agreement and terms & conditions of occupation
• Details of the scheme in which the tenancy deposit is held.

You will also be asked to provide copies of relevant safety certificates for the property and for each self-contained unit within, which you should submit in electronic form (ideally in PDF format).  These documents may include:

1. Landlords Gas Safety Record (LGSR)*
2. Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)*
3. Fire Alarm Test Certificate 
4. Fire Alarm logbook 
5. Emergency Lighting Certificate
6. Portable Appliance Test Certificate (PAT) if applicable *
7. Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), (for each self-contained unit/flat)*
8. Copies of Tenancy Agreement/s or statement of terms and conditions of occupation
9. List of any other private rented properties you own within Sefton. (NOTE: an electronic list can be attached)
10. Proof of identification of proposed licence holder
11. Proof of address of proposed licence holder

* Note: you will be required to provide these documents for each self-contained flat.

Yes.  You will need to provide an email address.

If you need to have documents scanned and you don’t currently have the facility to do this, all Sefton libraries offer a scanning facility free of charge.

If you do not have an email address or require assistance to complete a licence application, contact 0345 140 0845.

This is the process that your application will then follow as it moves towards the grant of a Housing licence.  Please note that your application will only become valid when steps 1 to 5 have been completed.

1. You complete and submit your online application form with the first payment, a copy of your application will be held within your account area and you will receive an email acknowledging your submission and receipt of payment.
2. We process your form, you may be asked for further information if not included with your application.
3. A Notice of Intention to Grant a Licence will be issued to you and to any other interested parties. The notice will invite you to make any representations you wish to make on the conditions included in the draft licence.  If you decide to make representations you must do this within 14 days from the date on the notice.
4. The balance of licence fee will be requested within 14 days if full payment is not received your property will remain unlicensed.
5. Final licence will be issued after representations (if any), have been considered and resolved.
6. We will contact you to arrange an appointment with you to inspect the property. The inspection may be arranged sooner in respect of ‘higher risk’ premises. 
7. Where an inspection of the property has taken place, you will be informed of the outcome.
8. If an inspection identifies licensing issues or housing related hazards that need to be addressed, the licence may be varied by including additional conditions and/or we may require other action to remove any serious hazards under the ‘Housing Health & Safety Rating System’ (HHSRS).

Properties requiring an additional licence includes those as defined by section 254 of the Housing Act 2004, which are occupied by 3 or 4 persons comprising 2 or more households, where the property is of ANY storeys with sharing facilities

or

Has been converted into self- contained flats that fall within section 257 Housing Act 2004 and are converted flats that do not comply with 1991 building regulations and where more than one third are rented out on short term tenancies.

The designation covers parts of Seaforth, Waterloo, Brighton-le-Sands and Southport. A map of the areas and list of the roads included is set out in the document below:

Map of the licensing area of Southport

List of streets included in the Southport AL area

Map of the licensing area of Seaforth, Waterloo and Brighton-le-Sands

List of streets included in the Seaforth, Waterloo and Brighton-le-Sands AL area

No, there are some properties exempt from licensing see the full list here.

Yes, a licence holder is required to be a resident of the United Kingdom.  Any non-resident landlords should appoint a representative from within the UK to be licence holder, such as a local property managing agent.

There are a number of licencing conditions that landlords will be required to comply with.

In addition to the above fee: for each additional unit (under the control of the same proposed licence holder, within the same building) a charge of £30 per additional unit will apply.

Do I pay up front?

You will be required to pay £250 on application for each property within the Additional (HMO) licensing area, the balance after allowing for any reduced fees will be requested on production of draft licence

Refunds

 We would only give a refund for a property licence if an application was made by mistake.

Situations considered to be a mistake are if:

• the property is outside the designated area
• a duplicate application has been made
• an application was made for an exempted property.

We will not give a refund if:

• We refuse your application
• You withdraw your application
• We revoke your licence
• You are refused planning permission for works required to your property
• If you cancel your licence

 No repayment of the licence fee will be made to the existing licence holder (or applicant) for any unexpired period of the licence since licence fees are not connected to the length of a licence so if you cancel your licence before it expires (for example, if you sell your property), we cannot give you a refund.

It is an offence if the landlord or person in control of the property:

• fails to apply for a licence for a licensable property, or
• allows a property to be occupied by more people than is permitted under the licence

A fine of any amount may be imposed.  In addition, breaking any of the licence conditions can result in fines of any amount per offence.

We can refuse a licence application if we decide you are not a fit and proper person or if the property does not meet the licensing conditions.

You may appeal if the council decides to:

• refuse a licence
• grant a licence with conditions
• revoke a licence
• vary a licence
• refuse to vary a licence

You must appeal to the First-tier Property Tribunal normally within 28 days.

No.  A licence is not transferrable.

If the licence holder changes during the term of the licence, you should inform us within 7 days of the change and a new full licence application should be submitted (original will be revoked).  If appointing a managing agent as licence holder, you are advised to be confident in retaining the services of that agent for the full term of the licence since changing licence holder (even to yourself), would incur an extra licence fee.

This guide is intended to advise on the standards that apply to HMO’s as defined in Sections 254 and 257 of the Housing Act 2004 that, although not subject to Mandatory HMO Licensing, are situated in areas that are designated as  an ‘Additional (HMO)’ area

standards for HMO accommodation

List of additional HMO frequently asked questions

Housing Standards Team, Sefton Council, Ground Floor Magdalen House

30 Trinity Road, Bootle   L20 3NJ Email: landlord.licensing@sefton.gov.uk