Rental Property Licensing in Manchester

Manchester has been steadily expanding its selective licensing programme, and the scheme now covers a growing number of wards across the city. If you own a rental property in Manchester, here is what you need to know.

The scale of private renting in Manchester

Around 100,000 properties in Manchester are privately rented, making up roughly 40% of the city's total housing stock. The council has acknowledged that while many of these properties are well managed, there are areas where standards have been consistently below what tenants should expect. Selective licensing is one of the tools the council uses to address this.

Which areas are covered by selective licensing?

Manchester has introduced selective licensing schemes across several wards. The most recent expansion, approved in 2024, added schemes covering parts of Cheetham, Crumpsall, Harpurhey, Longsight, Miles Platting, Newton Heath and Moss Side. The new schemes added around 1,863 properties to the licensed pool.

Within these areas, private landlords must hold a licence for each property they rent out. The scheme requires landlords to demonstrate they are fit and proper to manage their properties, comply with licence conditions, and provide access for inspections.

What selective licensing means for landlords

If your property falls within a designated selective licensing area in Manchester, you need to apply to the council for a licence. The licence comes with conditions covering property management, anti-social behaviour, safety certifications and tenant documentation.

Landlords who fail to licence a property can face an unlimited fine if prosecuted through the courts, or a civil penalty of up to £30,000 issued directly by the council. The council has been clear that it will pursue unlicensed landlords.

Mandatory HMO licensing

Mandatory HMO licensing applies across Manchester, as it does across all of England, for properties with five or more tenants from two or more households sharing facilities. This is a national requirement under the Housing Act 2004.

How to check if your property needs a licence

Because selective licensing in Manchester applies to specific streets and zones rather than the whole city, it is not always obvious whether a particular property is affected. The council's website has information on the designated areas, but the quickest way to check is to use Tuxa. Enter the address and you will get an immediate answer.

---

Tuxa monitors licensing scheme data across England. Use the search above to check any property in Manchester or anywhere else in the country.