Licensing in Salford City Council is set street by street. Check whether a specific address needs a licence with the free property licence checker, or see if it falls in a selective licensing area.
Salford City Council operates selective licensing in specific areas of the city and a city-wide additional HMO licensing scheme. As of August 2025, Salford has issued fines totalling £2.2 million in its crackdown on rogue landlords, making it one of the most active enforcement authorities in England.
Salford City Council operates two active selective licensing designations:
All privately rented properties in these areas require a selective licence.
Salford also operates a city-wide additional HMO licensing scheme (commenced 19 July 2021, ends 19 July 2026) covering all HMOs with 3 or more occupants from 2 or more households. This means virtually all shared houses in Salford require a licence.
Salford City Council has been one of the most active enforcers of property licensing in England:
This page was researched and written by the Tuxa editorial team. Our data is sourced directly from local authority websites, MHCLG scheme designation orders, and the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA). We update our content when councils announce new schemes or enforcement actions. If you spot an error or out-of-date information, please contact us.
Last reviewed: March 2026
Salford City Council charges the following fees for property licences:
Salford City Council may offer a reduced fee for landlords who are members of an approved accreditation scheme.
Salford City Council's selective licensing scheme covers specific designated areas within the city. The scheme has been applied in areas including Ordsall, Langworthy, Seedley, and parts of Eccles, which have high concentrations of private rented housing and have been prioritised based on evidence of poor conditions and anti-social behaviour.
Salford City Council publishes interactive maps of its selective licensing areas on its website. Landlords should verify their specific address using the council's online checker, as boundaries are drawn at street level.
Key postcodes in Salford's selective licensing areas: M5, M6, M50.
Applications for property licences in Salford are made through Salford City Council's online portal:
Does my Salford rental property need a licence? If your property is within a designated selective licensing area, it requires a selective licence. HMOs with 5 or more occupants require a mandatory HMO licence. Smaller HMOs require an additional licence.
What are the penalties for renting without a licence in Salford? Salford City Council has been one of the most active enforcement authorities in England. As of August 2025, the council had issued fines totalling £2.2 million in its crackdown on rogue landlords. Civil penalties can reach £30,000 per property, and tenants can apply for Rent Repayment Orders.
How do I check if my Salford address is in a selective licensing area? Use the Tuxa property search tool or Salford City Council's online address checker. The council's Private Sector Housing team can confirm requirements for a specific address.
How long does a Salford selective licence last? Salford City Council typically grants selective licences for five years.
Last reviewed: March 2026. Source: Salford City Council housing licensing pages; Housing Act 2004.