Selective and Additional (HMO) Licensing Scheme Consultation

A consultation is underway to see whether local people want Sefton Council’s housing licensing schemes for privately rented properties extended for a further five-years, until February 2028.

You can find an Easy-read explanation of the consultation here.

Licensing schemes

Since March 2018, Sefton Council has had a Selective Licensing scheme for private landlords in the Bootle area.

There is also another licensing scheme which is called ‘Additional (HMO) Licensing which is only for houses of multiple occupancy (rented to at least three people, who are not part of the same family) for privately rented property situated in parts of Seaforth, Waterloo, Brighton-Le-Sands and central Southport.

With the current schemes due to end on 28th February 2023, Sefton Council is now carrying out a 12-week consultation on its proposal to extend them until February 2028.

Take part in our consultation now.

Improvements

Introducing the current licencing schemes has enabled Sefton Council to work with private landlords in the areas covered to improve their standards of management.

This has resulted in improved living conditions for their tenants as well as improvements for the wider areas, such as reduced anti-social behaviour.

By extending the scheme for a further five years Sefton Council aims to build on this success and bring about further benefits for landlords, tenants and those communities.

Take part in our consultation now.

Use the Easy Read Questionnaire to take part.

FAQs

• Selective Licensing Scheme Consultation FAQs
  
  
• Additional (HMO) Licensing Scheme consultation FAQs.

Background Documents

You can use the following links to find: 

• Housing Licensing Consultation Document
  
  
• Summary of the Housing Licensing Consultation Document
  
  
• an Easy-Read version of this information

Further reading

• Business Case for Selective & Additional (HMO) Licensing 2023 – 2028

Appendices

1. Selective Licensing Designated Area - Bootle

2. Selective Licensing Conditions

3. Additional Licensing - Designated Areas, Southport, Seaforth & Waterloo

4. Additional (HMO) Licensing Conditions

5. Selective & Additional HMO Licensing Case Studies

6. Fit and Proper Person Policy

7. Civil Penalty Policy

8. Risk Analysis of Introducing Licensing Schemes across designated areas and mitigating measures

9. Requirements for the Designation of an Area for Selective Licensing.

Further information

If you want to be updated on the proposed housing licensing schemes, you can contact landlord.licensing@sefton.gov.uk  .

You can use these links to find out more about our current schemes:

• Selective HMO Licensing;
• Additional HMO Licensing.