Liverpool Licensed Properties Public Register: How to Check

Where the Register Lives

Liverpool City Council maintains a public register of properties that hold a current selective licence or mandatory HMO licence. The register is searchable through the LAR (Licensing and Regulations) portal — the same system landlords use to submit their applications.

You do not need an account to search. The public search function lets anyone enter a street address or postcode and see whether a property has an active licence, who the licence holder is, and when the licence was granted.

What the Register Shows

A search result for a licensed property typically includes:

• The property address
• The licence type (selective or mandatory HMO)
• The name of the licence holder
• The licence status (active, pending, expired, revoked)
• The licence grant and expiry dates

The register does not show the full application details, safety certificates, inspection reports or licence conditions. It confirms licensing status — nothing more.

Why Landlords Should Check

Before buying a rental property. If the property already holds a licence under the current owner, that licence expires on sale. You will need a fresh application in your own name. But knowing the property was licensed confirms it sits in a designated ward and gives you a baseline for budgeting the application fee.

After submitting your own application. The register updates once a licence is formally granted. Checking your property's entry confirms the licence is active and shows the correct licence holder name. If you changed managing agents or updated details through a variation request, verifying the register entry catches any administrative errors.

To verify a managing agent's claims. If a letting agent says they have handled the licensing for a property in your portfolio, the register is the fastest way to confirm the licence exists and is held in the correct name.

Why Tenants Check

Tenants use the public register to verify whether their rented home is properly licensed. This matters because:

• If a property should be licensed but is not, the tenant can apply for a Rent Repayment Order through the First-tier Tribunal, claiming back up to 24 months' rent.
• Section 21 no-fault notices were abolished on 1 May 2026 under the Renters' Rights Act 2025. Under the national PRS Database rules, Liverpool landlords who miss the 14 August 2027 registration deadline cannot serve Section 8 possession notices.
• Tenants can report unlicensed properties to Liverpool City Council's Private Sector Housing team, which can investigate and impose civil penalties on the landlord.

A property appearing on the register with an active licence status is evidence that the landlord has met the licensing requirements. A property that does not appear, or shows an expired or revoked licence, raises a question worth investigating further.

What the Register Does Not Cover

The register only shows properties where a licence has been granted or is pending. It does not tell you:

• Whether a property should be licensed but has no application on file
• Whether the property meets all ongoing licence conditions
• Whether safety certificates are current
• Whether the property has planning permission if it is being used as an HMO

A property's absence from the register could mean it genuinely does not need a licence (it is outside the 39 selective wards and houses fewer than five people), or it could mean the landlord has not applied. The register is a compliance indicator, not a compliance guarantee.

How to Search

Go to Liverpool City Council's LAR portal and use the public register search. Enter the full property address or the postcode. The system searches against the council's local land and property gazetteer, so flat numbers and sub-addresses matter — search for the specific unit if the building is converted.

If the property does not appear but you believe it should be licensed, the next step depends on who you are. Landlords should check the ward designation using the council's postcode checker and submit an application if required. Tenants can contact Liverpool's Private Sector Housing team to report a potential unlicensed let.

Our Liverpool landlord licensing guide covers the ward check, application process and fee structure for landlords who need to get licensed.

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