Selective Licensing Public Notice

Background

Wirral has areas of low housing demand and almost 1 in 3 properties in Wirral’s private rented sector fails to meet the decent homes standard, which can have a huge impact on the health and welfare of tenants and wider communities. Selective Licensing aims to improve homes in these areas by ensuring private landlords and agents meet satisfactory standards of tenancy and property management.

Holders of licenses are required to comply with the conditions of the Selective Licence. In addition, a team of Healthy Homes Advocates are working in each of the Selective Licensing areas offering residents free advice and services relating to a range of health and housing issues.

Wirral currently has 4 selective licensing areas which were designated on 1 July 2015 and will last until 31 June 2020. 4 further Selective Licensing areas are due to commence on 1 April 2019. The document below provides a map of each of the areas and a list of addresses, which are subject to periodic review and update, in the current 2015 scheme.

Map areas where the selective licensing designated on 1 July 2015 scheme applies.

How to apply for a licence in the Selective Licensing Scheme (designated on 1 July 2015)

In the 4 areas currently designated on 1 July 2015 (Birkenhead South, Egerton North, Seacombe Library, Egremont Promenade South), a 2-part application process applies. It is important to note that a full application consists of both a Part 1 and Part 2 application forms (including all requested enclosures and fees).

Part 1

Each proposed licence holder will need to complete a Part 1 application form below and list on the application all the properties they propose to licence. You only need to complete this application once for all properties you wish to apply for a licence.

Payment of the Part 1 fee and proof of ID are required for this application to be valid. Payment by debit or credit card will be required for this Part 1 online application. 

Apply for a selective licence part 1

Part 2

A Part 2 application form below will also need to be completed for each property.

This second part of the application is property-specific, and documentation will be required to support this part of the application process together with the remainder of the licence fee (or a request for an invoice to be issued and a payment plan set up). A separate Part 2 application is required for each property you wish to licence.

Apply for a selective licence part 2

Extending Selective Licensing in Wirral

On 1 April 2019 selective licensing is to commence within 4 additional areas of Wirral. The following links to the public notice and the maps advise of the areas affected.

Selective Licensing Public Notice

View each area for a detailed map and list of addresses included in the proposed areas. The 4 additional areas are:

The 4 new areas were identified in a similar way as the original areas, using research by Wirral Council’s Intelligence Team which identified key areas suffering from low housing demand and poor property condition, as well as higher than average rates of private rented homes. A full breakdown of the evidence, methodology and findings is included in the business case below along with the public and stakeholder consultation findings.

Penalties and Sanctions

Prosecution

Failure to apply for a licence when required is an offence punishable on summary conviction to an unlimited fine.  Alternative a Civil Penalty Notice of up to £30,000 can be issued.

Repayment of rent

Tenants including former tenants living at the property whilst it was unlicensed or the Council may apply to the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) for a Rent Repayment Order (RRO) to reclaim up to 12 months’ rent from the landlord.  Apply for an RRO.

Failing to comply with licence conditions

Anyone failing to comply with licence conditions commits an offence punishable on summary conviction to an unlimited fine per offence.  A Civil Penalty Notice up to £30,000 is an alternative sanction available to the local authority.

More information

For further guidance on the application process email [email protected].

You can also write to:

Selective Licensing
Wallasey Town Hall
Brighton Street
Wirral
CH44 8ED

Members of the public can view the public register that gives the details of landlords who have a licence for their property. To make an appointment to view this register please write to the Selective Licensing Team at the above address or alternatively email [email protected].

Wirral Council reserves the right to charge for this service in accordance with Section 232(5) of the Housing Act 2004.

Selective licence properties and landlords

To search the below list for a property or licence holder, type CTRL+F and type in the text you are looking for.

Selective licence properties and landlords in Wirral, updated December 2018

Selective Licence documents archive

Following the consultation, all representations were considered and a report was presented to Wirral Council’s Cabinet on 12 March 2015 and full council on 16 March 2015, where it was agreed to designate a selective licensing scheme in 4 areas in Wirral. The consultation on proposals for selective licensing in the 4 areas currently designated closed on Wednesday 18 February 2015.