Halton: landlord licensing, explained and verified

The national rule applies everywhere in England: a house in multiple occupation with 5 or more occupants forming 2 or more households must be licensed. Letting a licensable HMO without a licence risks a civil penalty of up to £30,000 or an unlimited fine.

Halton currently has no additional licensing scheme on record. Only the national mandatory HMO rules apply to shared houses. Councils can designate new schemes after consultation, so this can change.

Halton currently has no selective licensing scheme on record, so non-HMO rentals do not need a local licence today. Schemes are designated for 5 years at a time and new consultations appear regularly.

Selective Licensing Consultation: A consultation for a new Selective Licensing scheme is underway from 03/08/2026 to 18/10/2026. The proposed scheme would cover specific wards (Central and West Bank, Appleton, Mersey and Weston, Bridgewater, and LSOA E01012379 in Highfield) and has a proposed fee of £685 per property. Mandatory HMO Licence Fee Changes (Effective 01/04/2025): Halton Council has announced changes to its HMO licensing fee structure, effective from 01/04/2025. Standard New Application (5-year licence): £916.00, structured as a Stage 1 fee of £695.00 and a Stage 2 fee of £221.00. Standard Renewal: £910.00, structured as a Stage 1 fee of £695.00 and a Stage 2 fee of £215.00. Higher Rate New Application (for HMOs operating unlicensed for more than 12 weeks): £2,175.00, structured as a Stage 1 fee of £695.00 and a Stage 2 fee of £1,480.00. New Application (2-year licence): £1,084.00, structured as a Stage 1 fee of £695.00 and a Stage 2 fee of £389.00. Article 4 Direction (Effective 24/09/2025): An Article 4 Direction will apply to certain parts of the borough from 24/09/2025. This will remove permitted development rights, meaning planning permission will be required to convert any dwelling house to an HMO in those designated areas.

Letting an unlicensed property that needed a licence carries civil penalties of up to £30,000 per property (up to £40,000 for some offences under the Renters’ Rights Act), rent repayment orders of up to 24 months of rent. Possession runs through Section 8 since May 2026, and being unlicensed badly weakens a claim while unlicensed. “I didn’t know” is not a defence.

This page was last verified on 28 August 2026, and we keep it current as schemes and fees change. Rules and fees change (most councils revise fees each April), so always confirm with the council directly before applying.

Every English council sets its own schemes. Greenwich · Guildford · Hackney · Hammersmith and Fulham · Harborough · Haringey · or browse all councils A to Z.