Liverpool Selective Licensing 2027 Renewal: New Fees, Ward Coverage and What to Expect

The Current Scheme's Expiry

Liverpool's selective licensing designation runs from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2027. The council's consultation material does not confirm how licences granted under the current scheme will be treated after the designation ends. If a successor scheme is approved, check the final transition notice and the expiry date on your individual licence rather than assuming it will automatically carry over.

The council doesn't need Secretary of State approval for the replacement. The Selective Licensing of Houses (General Approval) (England) 2024 (in force from 23 December 2024) removed the central government sign-off requirement for schemes covering more than 20% of an area's geographic area or more than 20% of its private rented sector. Liverpool can now designate on its own authority, provided it meets the Housing Act 2004 criteria and runs the mandatory 10-week consultation.

The Three Options on the Table

Liverpool's consultation closed on 5 October 2026. Three successor schemes were proposed for the 2027–2032 period:

Option 1 — Citywide (64 wards): Every ward in Liverpool designated. This would eliminate the postcode lottery that currently leaves some private landlords unlicensed while their neighbours a street away need a licence. It would also bring in wards not previously captured, including some with significant private rented housing.

Option 2 — Deprivation-focused (29 wards): Targets wards with the highest deprivation indices. Fewer wards than the current 39, but concentrated on the areas with the poorest housing outcomes.

Option 3 — Poor property condition (26 wards): Targets wards where property condition data shows the worst standards. The narrowest coverage option.

The Cabinet decision is expected in December 2026. If Option 1 passes, every privately rented property in Liverpool would fall within the selective designation, subject to statutory exemptions and the separate mandatory HMO scheme. If Option 2 or 3 is chosen, some landlords currently in designated wards could find themselves outside the new scheme — though they'd still need to comply with the national PRS Database requirements from May 2027.

The Proposed £995 Base Fee

The consultation published a base selective licence fee of £995 for the 2027–2032 scheme — a 41% increase over the current standard rate of £704. The final fee structure, including any discount tiers, will be confirmed in the December 2026 decision.

The consultation material does not confirm discount tiers for the successor scheme. The proposed base fee is significantly higher, so landlords managing multiple properties should factor the £995 figure into cash flow planning until the final fee schedule is published.

For a landlord with five properties, the difference between the current standard fees and the proposed 2027 baseline is roughly £1,455 (from £3,520 to £4,975 over the scheme cycle) — assuming no discounts apply.

The Timeline That Matters

Here's the sequence of dates landlords need to track:

• 5 October 2026: consultation closed
• December 2026: Cabinet decision on scheme option and final fees
• 15 December 2026: national PRS Database opens for voluntary registration
• 31 March 2027: current designation expires; check licence expiry dates and the council's transition notice
• 1 April 2027: successor scheme takes effect (subject to Cabinet approval)
• 15 May 2027: PRS Database mandatory for North West landlords
• 14 August 2027: PRS Database registration deadline for Liverpool landlords

The gap between 31 March and 1 April is notionally seamless, but in practice the council will need to publish the new application portal and fee schedule in advance. Landlords who wait until April to engage will face the rush. If you currently hold a licence expiring on 31 March, prepare your safety certificates and documentation in January and February so you can submit promptly when the new scheme opens.

What Happens to Current Licences

The designation ends on 31 March 2027, but the consultation material does not say whether every individual licence granted under it will terminate on that date. Check the expiry date on your licence and the council's final transition notice; a licence term can be shorter than the five-year statutory maximum.

The council hasn't announced whether there'll be a transitional period, expedited processing for existing licence holders, or renewal pricing. Past practice in other councils has varied. Monitor the December 2026 decision for transition details.

Planning Ahead

The practical steps: compare your property's location against the published map for the option the council selects; the consultation materials do not establish which wards appear in all three options. Get safety certificates renewed before March 2027 so they don't expire mid-application, and set aside the budget for the new fee — the proposed base is £995 per property.

Our Liverpool Landlord Licensing Guide covers the 2027 transition timeline in detail, including a Renewal Tracker worksheet for managing the crossover between the current and successor schemes.

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