Consultation and engagement

Consultation on Selective Licensing

Start date: 27th July 2026
End date: 5th October 2026

Liverpool City Council is inviting residents, tenants, landlords, letting and managing agents, businesses, community organisations and other stakeholders to share their views on proposals for future selective licensing designations across the city. 

The Council's current selective licensing scheme is due to end in March 2027. Under Part 3 of the Housing Act 2004, any new designation can only be introduced following consultation and consideration of all representations received. Cabinet approved the commencement of a public consultation in May 2026 to help inform decisions about any future scheme.  

No decision has yet been made on whether a new selective licensing scheme will be introduced. This consultation provides an opportunity for everyone likely to be affected by the proposals to review the evidence and tell us what they think before any final decision is considered by Cabinet.  

What is selective licensing?

Selective licensing is a scheme that allows local authorities to require privately rented properties in designated areas to be licensed. The scheme aims to improve property management standards, support safe and well-managed housing, identify landlords and property managers, and help tackle issues within the private rented sector.  

Liverpool has operated selective licensing schemes since 2015. The current scheme, which began in April 2022, covers approximately 80% of privately rented properties within the city.  

What are we consulting on?

The Council is seeking views on three potential options for future selective licensing designations covering the period 2027 to 2032. These options have been developed using evidence gathered about housing conditions, private renting and neighbourhood challenges across Liverpool.  

Option 1 - Low Housing Demand

A city-wide designation based on evidence relating to low housing demand and the potential for neighbourhood decline.  

Option 2 - Deprivation

A targeted designation focused on areas where evidence demonstrates high levels of deprivation and where licensing could contribute towards improving housing management, neighbourhoods and wider outcomes for residents.  

Option 3 - Poor Property Conditions

A targeted designation focused on areas experiencing significant poor housing conditions within the private rented sector, building on the approach used in the current scheme.  

The consultation materials include detailed evidence and supporting documents explaining the rationale for each option.  

Why are we consulting?

The Housing Act 2004 requires local authorities to take reasonable steps to consult people who may be affected by a designation and to consider all responses before making any decision.  

The consultation will help the Council understand the views of: 

  • Private tenants
  • Landlords
  • Letting and managing agents
  • Residents
  • Businesses
  • Community and voluntary organisations
  • Public sector partners
  • Anyone with an interest in housing and neighbourhoods in Liverpool

Feedback received will help shape recommendations that may be presented to Cabinet later in 2026.  

Supporting documents 

How to comment?

You can take part by completing our online survey 

Complete the online survey on selective licensing

You can also participate by providing written comments and representation through the post. You can send your comments and representation to Opinion Research Services, FREEPOST SS1018, PO Box 530, Swansea, SA1 1ZL.

Alternatively, you can email liverpool.licensing@ors.org.uk to share your views.

All responses received during the consultation period will be independently reviewed and analysed before any recommendations are made.

Consultation events

More details of consultation events will be made available shortly. Please check back regularly for updates.

What happens to my views?

Liverpool City Council has appointed Opinion Research Services (ORS), an independent research company, to manage the questionnaire responses and other consultation feedback. ORS will produce an independent consultation report in which feedback from respondents will be anonymised, but views from organisations or people acting in their official capacity may be attributed. ORS may use automated AI solutions to assist in the analysis of responses, and therefore you should ensure that you do not include any identifying information in your feedback.

All the questions are entirely optional, and any information that you provide in response to this consultation will be processed by ORS in accordance with the latest Data Protection regulations. Information will only be used to inform this consultation and any personal information that could identify you will be kept for no more than 1 year after any decisions have been finalised. For further information, please see the privacy notice on Liverpool City Council and the privacy notice on ORS.

What happens next?

After the consultation closes all responses will be collated and analysed and the Council will consider the views alongside the supporting evidence. Then a consultation report will be prepared and recommendations will be presented to Cabinet for consideration. Cabinet will decide whether to make any future selective licensing designation. If approved, any new designation would be intended to operate after the current designation ends and following completion of the statutory processes.