Most landlords have never heard of selective licensing until a council letter — or a fine — tells them about it.
Mandatory HMO licensing (5+ occupants, 2+ households) is nationally known. What most landlords miss: individual councils can also require a licence for ANY rental property in a designated area — even a single let to one tenant — through “selective licensing,” and separately for smaller HMOs through “additional licensing.”
These aren't rare: as of our own research, over 60% of the councils we've checked so far have some form of live scheme. The catch is there's no national register — you have to check your specific council, and the designated areas are often street-specific, not borough-wide.
A scheme that doesn't cover your postcode today can be extended to cover it next year with only a few months' notice.
Check your exact property free — we look up your specific council's licensing position, not a generic overview.
Check my compliance — free Browse your council's page