Stoke-on-Trent HMO Public Register: How to Check If a Property Is Licensed

Whether you are a tenant checking that your landlord has a licence, a prospective buyer verifying a property's compliance status, or a landlord confirming your own entry, Stoke-on-Trent City Council maintains a statutory public register of licensed HMOs under Section 232 of the Housing Act 2004. Here is how to access it.

Two Ways to Check the Register

1. Electronic extract (£25 fee, email request). Email the Information Rights Team at [email protected] and request an electronic copy of the HMO register. The council charges a standard £25 administration fee and says it may take up to five days to provide the copy. The electronic version includes full addresses and property specifics but is partially redacted and omits licence-holder particulars.

2. In-person inspection (by appointment). If you need the unredacted register — including licence holder names and contact addresses — you can request an appointment to inspect the certified hard copy at the Civic Offices, Civic Centre, Glebe Street, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 1HH. Contact the council to arrange an appointment.

Stoke-on-Trent does not currently offer a searchable online database where you can type in an address and see whether it is licensed. Other councils have built self-service portals, but Stoke-on-Trent still uses the email request and in-person routes.

What the Register Tells You

A register entry confirms:

• The property holds a valid HMO licence
• The maximum number of occupants and households permitted
• The licence expiry date
• Amenity and room details

What the Register Does Not Tell You

A listing does not mean the property is currently compliant. The register confirms a licence was granted, but it does not track whether the landlord has kept up with annual gas safety checks, maintained fire alarm systems, or stayed within occupancy limits since the grant date.

An absent listing does not mean no licence is needed. Properties with pending applications — submitted and being processed but not yet formally decided — do not appear on the register until the council issues the Decision Notice. If a property is not on the register, it could mean no licence was applied for, or it could mean the application is in progress.

Data Protection Limits

The council says publication of licence holders' addresses on the register does not constitute their consent to marketing. The register's disclosure is not opt-in consent; check applicable data-protection rules before using any register information for marketing.

Why Landlords Should Check Their Own Entry

If you hold an HMO licence, confirm that your entry is correct — particularly the maximum occupancy figure and the expiry date. Errors on the register could cause problems if a tenant or council officer cross-references the register against the property. Contact the Private Sector Housing Team on 01782 232087 if anything needs correcting.

The Stoke-on-Trent Landlord Licensing Guide explains the public register in context alongside the full licensing process, so you understand where the register fits in the compliance timeline.

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