Salford Landlord Licensing: Everything Private Landlords Need to Know
Salford runs more licensing schemes than most councils in Greater Manchester, and every one of them carries a different set of rules, fees, and deadlines. If you own a rented property anywhere in the city, there is a realistic chance it needs a licence you haven't applied for yet.
Which Licensing Schemes Are Active in Salford?
Salford City Council operates four distinct licensing regimes under Parts 2 and 3 of the Housing Act 2004. Each targets a different property type or geographic area.
Mandatory HMO licensing applies citywide. Any property occupied by five or more people from two or more separate households who share a kitchen, bathroom, or toilet needs a mandatory HMO licence. There is no end date — this is a permanent national requirement enforced locally by Salford's Landlord Licensing Team.
Selective licensing in Eccles, Barton & Winton has been running since 1 September 2022 and expires on 1 September 2027. Every privately rented property inside the designated streets needs a selective licence, regardless of how many people live there. A single-family let on a designated street needs the same licence as a two-person flat share.
Selective licensing in Broughton, Kersal & Broughton Park started on 21 January 2026 and runs until 20 January 2031. The same rules apply — if your property sits on a designated street, you need a selective licence.
Section 257 additional HMO licensing is the newest scheme, launching citywide on 24 November 2026 and running until 24 November 2031. It covers converted blocks of self-contained flats where the original conversion didn't meet the Building Regulations in force at the time. If less than two-thirds of the flats in the block are owner-occupied, the building itself needs a licence.
One scheme is no longer running. Salford's additional HMO licensing for 3- and 4-person shared houses expired on 19 July 2026. Properties that held licences under that scheme are no longer covered, and the licences cannot be renewed. Landlords with small HMOs now need to check whether their property falls inside a selective licensing area instead.
How Do You Know Which Licence Your Property Needs?
Start with the occupancy. Five or more people from two or more households sharing facilities means a mandatory HMO licence — location doesn't matter.
If the property is a converted block of self-contained flats that failed to meet building standards at conversion and fewer than two-thirds of the flats are owner-occupied, the building needs a Section 257 additional licence from 24 November 2026.
For everything else — single-family lets, single-person tenancies, small shared houses — check the property's street address against the council's designated street lists. If the address appears on the list for either selective licensing area, you need a selective licence. If it doesn't, no property licence is currently required (though HMO management regulations still apply to any shared house).
Where a street forms the boundary of a scheme, properties on both sides of the road are included unless the street list says otherwise. For borderline addresses — particularly along Bury New Road — the council recommends emailing [email protected] for written confirmation.
What Does a Licence Cost?
Salford splits every licence fee into two parts. Part A covers application processing and is non-refundable. Part B covers the licence grant and is charged only if the application succeeds.
A standard selective licence costs £609 total (roughly £365 for Part A and £244 for Part B). A mandatory HMO licence runs £970. Section 257 fees vary by building size, starting at £1,431.65 for blocks of 2–4 flats and rising to £1,991.65 for buildings with nine or more.
Accredited landlords and those submitting subsequent applications for additional properties receive fee reductions. The council also offers interest-free direct debit instalment plans.
Free Download
Get the Salford Landlord Licensing Checklist
Everything in this article as a printable checklist — plus action plans and reference guides you can start using today.
What Happens If You Let Without a Licence?
Letting without a licence is a criminal offence under the Housing Act 2004. Salford City Council can impose civil penalties of up to £40,000 per property. Tenants can apply for a rent repayment order to recover up to 24 months of rent. And any Section 21 possession notice served while the property is unlicensed is invalid.
The risks are not theoretical. The council's enforcement team actively identifies unlicensed properties using its PRS database, council tax records, and street-level inspections.
Getting the Application Right First Time
Every licence application goes through Salford's online portal in a strict three-step sequence: register the property manager, register the proposed licence holder, then register the property itself. You'll need a current gas safety certificate, a satisfactory EICR, a valid EPC rated E or above, and fire alarm declarations. HMO applications also require dimensioned floor plans.
Getting any of these wrong means a rejected application — and Part A of the fee is gone regardless.
For a complete walkthrough of every scheme, the full fee schedules, document checklists, and the portal's three-step process, the Salford Landlord Licensing Guide breaks the entire process into a step-by-step sequence built around the council's actual requirements.
Get Your Free Salford Landlord Licensing Checklist
Download the Salford Landlord Licensing Checklist — a printable guide with checklists, scripts, and action plans you can start using today.