Selective licence Halton: schemes, fees and tribunal record

Halton licensing schemes in force or approved

We found no additional or selective licensing scheme in force on Halton Borough Council's website as of 28 Sep 2026. Mandatory HMO licensing still applies to any HMO with 5 or more people in 2 or more households. Confirm with the council (council page).

Upcoming: consultations and key dates in Halton

Selective licensing · Proposed selective licensing (4 wards + 1 LSOA)

Consultation open

Area covered	Part of the council area (5 wards)
Consultation	3 Aug 2026 to 18 Oct 2026
Proposed fee	£685 (Part A £310 + Part B £375) proposed; would also cover small HMOs not subject to mandatory licensing

Wards in the scheme (5)

Central and West Bank · Appleton · Mersey and Weston · Bridgewater · Highfield (LSOA E01012379 only)

Ward or street lists can split a road. Use the council's own address checker or designation map before relying on this list.

Council licensing page

Note from our check: Exec Board report https://councillors.halton.gov.uk/documents/s81785/Selective%20licensing%20proposal%20to%20consult%20Exec%20Board%20March%202026_final%20v2.pdf also listed LSOA E01012407 (Halton Lea), not in consultation list; council page www3.halton.gov.uk unreachable; additional: none

Checked 28 Sept 2026.

Want a reminder before a deadline? Use the form at the bottom of this page and pick "Email me before my deadlines".

Mandatory HMO licensing in Halton

Whatever the local schemes, a licence is required for any house in multiple occupation let to 5 or more people forming 2 or more households who share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet. This rule is national and has applied since 1 October 2018. Letting without a required licence is a criminal offence under section 72 of the Housing Act 2004. Read do I need an HMO licence? and how to apply.

Halton HMO licence register

We did not find an online public register for Halton. Every council must keep one (Housing Act 2004, s.232) and make it available for inspection; ask the council's private sector housing team.

Halton Article 4 and HMO planning rules

Official planning data lists 2 HMO Article 4 areas for Halton. Inside these areas, turning a family house (use class C3) into a small HMO (C4) needs planning permission.

HMO Article 4 area	In effect from	Document
Halton Borough Council Article 4 - 1	24 Sept 2025	view
Halton Borough Council Article 4 - A4D_1	24 Sept 2025	view

Licensing and planning are separate. A licence does not give planning permission, and planning permission does not replace a licence. See Article 4 and HMOs.

Tribunal record: rent repayment orders and civil penalties in Halton

We found no published rent repayment order or civil penalty appeal decisions for properties in Halton. That does not mean the council does not issue penalties: most are paid without appeal.

If you have let without a licence you needed, read unlicensed property: what to do, rent repayment orders and civil penalties.

Landlord database deadline for Halton

Halton is in the North West region of the new Private Rented Sector Database. Registration opens 15 May 2027 and the deadline to register is 14 Aug 2027. The published fee is £65 per property per year. Database registration is separate from council licensing: you may need both. See register your rental property.

Get help with a Halton licence application

We can prepare a licence application for you for a fixed fee; the council's own fee is separate. See pricing for what is included and how we make money. You can also run a full address check on the postcode checker.

Halton licensing: common questions

Is there selective licensing in Halton?

Not yet. We found no selective licensing scheme in force on the council's website as of 28 Sep 2026, but a selective scheme is being consulted on or awaiting a decision (see "Upcoming" above). Confirm with the council.

How much is an HMO licence in Halton?

We did not find a published fee on the council pages we checked. Mandatory HMO licence fees are set by each council, usually in two parts (application and grant). See the council page or our HMO licence cost guide.

Does Halton have an Article 4 direction for HMOs?