Greater Manchester Landlord Licensing: Which Councils Run Schemes in 2026?

If you let properties across Greater Manchester rather than just in Salford, you're dealing with ten separate local authorities — each with its own licensing decisions, fee structures, and designated areas. A property on a designated street in Broughton may need a Salford selective licence, while some properties in Cheetham Hill fall within Manchester City Council's separate selective-licensing areas.

Why Each Council Is Different

Landlord licensing under the Housing Act 2004 is a local authority power, not a regional one. There's no Greater Manchester-wide licensing scheme. Each of the ten GM boroughs decides independently whether to run selective licensing, additional HMO licensing, or neither — on top of the mandatory HMO licensing that applies everywhere in England by default.

The 2024 General Approval made it easier for councils to introduce large-scale schemes without needing approval from the Secretary of State, so the licensing landscape across Greater Manchester is changing faster than in previous years.

Salford's Current Position

Salford runs one of the more active licensing regimes in Greater Manchester:

• Mandatory HMO licensing: citywide, statutory, no expiry
• Selective licensing in Eccles, Barton & Winton: active until 1 September 2027
• Selective licensing in Broughton, Kersal & Broughton Park: active until 20 January 2031
• Section 257 additional HMO licensing: citywide, starting 24 November 2026
• Former additional HMO scheme (3-4 person small HMOs): expired 19 July 2026

What This Means for Multi-Property Landlords

If your portfolio spans multiple GM boroughs, you need to check each council's position separately. Mandatory HMO licensing (five or more occupants, two or more households) applies everywhere — but selective and additional schemes vary by council.

A selective licence in Salford doesn't cover a property in Bury, even though Bury is the next borough over. Each property needs its own licence from the council it falls under.

The fees differ too. Salford's selective licence is £609 total (Part A + Part B). Other GM councils may charge more or less, with different split structures and different discount arrangements.

Checking Other Boroughs

For each borough where you let property:

1. Check the council's website for active selective licensing designations
2. Verify whether the specific street or area your property is in falls within a designated zone
3. Confirm the fee structure and application process — every council runs its own portal
4. Check whether they offer accreditation discounts (not all do)

The national PRS Database portal opens for voluntary early registration on 15 December 2026. The statutory registration duty for North West properties begins on 15 May 2027, with a deadline of 14 August 2027 for existing in-scope properties. It doesn't replace local licensing — you'll need both where each requirement applies.

Cross-Borough Compliance

Each licensing authority makes its own fit-and-proper assessment. Salford may consider a previous licence refusal or revocation elsewhere in the UK, but a decision by one council is not an automatic shared ruling for another.

Similarly, Rent Repayment Orders and civil penalties issued by one council don't prevent another council from taking its own action for a different property. Operating unlicensed in Manchester doesn't make Salford more lenient; it makes them less.

For Salford specifically — how to check which scheme applies to your property, how to navigate the three-step portal, and how the fee split works — our Salford licensing guide covers the complete process.

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