Arcus Register Manchester: How to Check If a Landlord Has a Licence

What Is the Arcus Register?

Manchester City Council publishes its landlord licensing records through Arcus, a public register accessible at arcusregisters.manchester.gov.uk. It covers both mandatory HMO licences and selective licences granted within the Manchester City Council boundary.

The register exists because the Housing Act 2004 requires local authorities to maintain a public record of licensed properties. For tenants, it is a way to verify that their landlord actually holds a valid licence. For landlords, it is the council's public confirmation that your licence is active and current.

How to Search the Register

The Arcus system accepts searches by property address, postcode, or licence holder name. The results show:

• The property address
• The licence type (selective or HMO)
• The licence holder's name
• The licence start and expiry dates
• The maximum permitted occupancy
• Whether the licence is current, expired, or revoked

The interface is functional but basic — it returns raw database output with minimal explanation. An empty result does not by itself establish whether a property needs a licence or whether a recent grant has been entered. Check the exact address against the council's scheme requirements and ask the council to confirm the status. For an HMO entry that is missing, Manchester City Council directs enquiries to [email protected]; for selective licensing, contact [email protected].

What the Register Doesn't Show

Arcus shows the existence and status of a licence. It does not show the conditions attached to it, the compliance history, whether the property has been inspected, or whether there are pending enforcement actions. The start and expiry dates show the listed term, but the register does not explain why a licence is shorter or the planning position behind it. An HMO without the required C4 planning permission may receive a restricted 12-month licence.

The register cannot tell you whether a property should be licensed but is not. A property that falls within a selective licensing area but has no licence simply will not appear — the absence of a record is the red flag.

Why Tenants Should Check

Since 1 May 2026, tenants in Manchester have stronger tools against unlicensed landlords. For qualifying offences committed on or after that date, a tenant can apply to the First-tier Tribunal for a Rent Repayment Order covering up to 24 months of rent; offences committed before that date remain subject to the previous 12-month limit. The Arcus register is the first step in establishing whether a landlord is compliant.

Tenants whose exact address falls within a designated street pocket — in areas including Harpurhey, Longsight, Moss Side, Levenshulme, Rusholme, Cheetham, Crumpsall, Clayton, Openshaw, Gorton, Abbey Hey, Whalley Range, or Miles Platting — should search it on Arcus and compare the licence holder's name against their tenancy agreement. Selective licensing does not necessarily cover every property in a named ward. If the names do not match or no record exists for an address that should be licensed, ask the council to confirm the position.

Why Landlords Should Check Their Own Entry

If you hold a licence, verify that your Arcus entry is correct — right address, right licence holder name, right expiry date. Errors in the register do not affect your legal compliance (the licence document itself is what counts), but they can cause confusion with mortgage lenders, insurance providers, or tenants who check independently.

If you are preparing to apply for a Manchester landlord licence, the Landlord Licensing in Manchester guide walks through the full application process and explains how each step connects to the public register.

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