Salford Selective Licensing Expiry Dates and Renewal: What Happens Next

Selective licensing schemes in Salford are time-limited, and that creates a question most landlords don't think about until it's too late: when does your individual licence actually expire, and does the answer depend on when you were granted it?

The Expiry Dates

Each scheme has a fixed end date set by the council's designation notice:

• Eccles, Barton & Winton: expires 1 September 2027
• Broughton, Kersal & Broughton Park: expires 20 January 2031

One scheme has already ended. The citywide additional HMO licensing for 3- and 4-person shared houses expired on 19 July 2026. All licences issued under it ceased to be valid on that date, and cannot be renewed.

Your Licence Expires With the Scheme

This is the part that catches landlords off guard. A selective licence doesn't last five years from the date it was granted — it expires when the scheme itself ends. A licence issued under the Eccles scheme in March 2025 still expires on 1 September 2027, not in March 2030.

The council fee is not linked to the length of the licence. If you cancel before it expires, the council does not refund unused time.

What Happens at Expiry?

When a selective licensing scheme expires, the licensing obligation ends with it — unless the council has designated a new scheme to replace it. Properties that needed a licence under the old scheme no longer need one, and landlords don't need to take any specific action to "de-register."

But this creates a transition period where the rules can change quickly. If the council designates a replacement scheme for the same area, the new scheme typically starts on or shortly after the old one ends, and landlords in those streets will need to apply for a fresh licence under the new designation.

The 2024 General Approval Changed the Landscape

Before December 2024, councils that wanted to introduce selective licensing covering more than 20% of their area or 20% of their private rented stock needed explicit approval from the Secretary of State. That process added months or years of delay.

The 2024 General Approval removed that requirement entirely. Salford City Council can now introduce large-scale or citywide selective licensing designations without central government sign-off, as long as they satisfy the statutory conditions under Part 3 of the Housing Act 2004 and run a public consultation of at least 10 weeks.

This makes re-designation significantly faster and makes it more likely that expiring schemes will be replaced — potentially with expanded boundaries.

The Additional HMO Scheme Transition

The expiry of the 3- and 4-person additional HMO scheme on 19 July 2026 illustrates the practical impact. Landlords with small shared houses that previously needed an additional licence now need to determine whether their property falls inside a selective licensing zone. Those inside a zone need a selective licence instead. Those outside no longer need a property licence — but the property remains an HMO under Section 254 and must still comply with statutory HMO management regulations.

Separately, the new Section 257 scheme for converted flat blocks launches on 24 November 2026. It is not a renewal of the expired small HMO scheme — it targets a completely different property type.

Planning Ahead

If you hold a selective licence under the Eccles scheme expiring in September 2027, watch for council consultations on a replacement designation during 2027. The council's licensing team and its published consultation notices are the only reliable source for scheme renewal information.

The Salford Landlord Licensing Guide maps every active scheme's timeline and explains the transition rules for expired and incoming schemes.

See more England guides →