Selective licensing

Public Notice

Designation of areas for Selective Licensing Section 80, Housing Act 2004 

Notice is hereby given that on the 24th day of June 2025 Wirral Council (Town Hall, Brighton Street, Wallasey, CH44 8ED) in exercise of its powers under Section 80 of the Housing Act 2004 (“the Act”) designated 6 areas, namely parts of Birkenhead and Wallasey described in the Schedule below as being subject to selective licensing from 1st October 2025.

The designation may be inspected on the notice board outside Wallasey Town Hall, Brighton Street, Wallasey, CH44 8ED.

If you are a landlord, a person managing a property, or a tenant of a property within the areas of the designation you are advised to seek advice from the Council on whether your property is affected by the designation.

If you wish to do this, to obtain a licence or if you require a licence application or any general advice regarding the designation you are advised to contact the Selective Licensing Team within Housing Services at: Housing Standards Team, Wirral Council, PO Box 290, Wallasey, CH27 9FQ.

The designation falls within a description of designations for which the Secretary of State has issued a General Approval under Section 82 of the Act, namely the Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation and Selective Licensing of Other Residential Accommodation (England) General Approval 2015.  Therefore, the designation need not be confirmed and will come into force on 1st October 2025 and unless previously revoked, this designation shall cease to have effect on 30th September 2030.

Upon the designation coming into force on 1st October 2025 any person having control of or managing a licensable property without a licence is liable to prosecution under Section 95(1) of the Act and upon summary conviction is liable to an unlimited fine or under Section 249A a financial penalty not exceeding £30,000. In addition, such a person may be required, pursuant to a rent repayment order, to repay up to 12 months’ rent under the provisions of Section 96 and Section 97 of the Act.

Schedule

The designation shall have effect to any property situated, at any time during the designation, within the Lower Super Output Areas listed below. 

Copy plans of the areas affected and a copy of this notice will be posted on the Wirral Council website and on noticeboards in Council buildings in or nearest to the areas subject to the designation.

Area 1 Birkenhead Central (LSOA E01007128) this includes properties in:

Beckwith Street East, Borough Road, Brookland Road, Cardigan Avenue, Carlisle Mews, Circular Road, Clarendon Close, Claughton Road, Clifton Road, Conway Street, Corfu Street, Dover Close, Eastbourne Road, Elm Street, Exmouth Close, Exmouth Street, Fearnley Road, Grange Road, Grange Road West, Hazel Road, Hollybank Road, Lowwood Grove, Lowwood Road, Maritime Park, Menai Street, Oliver Street, Oxton Road, Parkfield Avenue, Parkfield Place, Simpson Street, Sisters Way, St Laurence Close, St Laurence Drive, The Woodlands, Vincent Street, Warwick Close, Whetstone Lane. 

Area 2 Lower Tranmere (LSOA E01007293) this includes properties in: 

Alison Avenue, Brougham Avenue, Cobden Avenue, Cobden Court, Downham Road, Fairhaven Close, Grenville Road, Grenville Way, Lever Terrace, Lydbrook Close, Meadow Lane, Meadow Park, Meadowfield Close, Mersey Walk, Moorland Road, New Chester Road, Old Chester Road, Orchard Court, Parkside Road, Peel Avenue, Quigley Street, Southwick Road, St Pauls Road, Stanley Court, Strathlorne Close, Summerford Close, Union Street, Wye Close. 

Area 3  Tranmere North (LSOA E01007130) this includes properties in:

Beech Road, Borough Road, Cedar Street, Charlecombe Street, Chesnut Grove, Derby Road, Elm Grove, Hollybank Road, Larch Road, Laurel Road, Maple Street, Milton Road East, Mounsey Road, Park Grove, Poplar Grove, Raffles Road, Rawcliffe Road, Shewell Close, Sycamore Road, Tatton Road, Wellington Terrace, Whalley Road, Whetstone Lane, Willmer Road. 

Area 4 Hamilton Square B (LSOA E01034839) this includes properties in:

Albion Street, Argyle Street, Castle Street, Chester Street, Church Street, Cross Street, Dacre Street, Douglas Street, Duncan Street, Grange Road East, Hamilton Square, Hamilton Street, Hornby Street, Lorn Street, Market Street, Mortimer Street, Oliver Street East, Price Street, Water Street.

Area 5 Tranmere Lairds (LSOA E01007291) this includes properties in: 

Argyle Street South, Clifton Road, Fairview, Frodsham Street, Green Lane, Helmingham Grove, Hillside Close, Hillside Road, Hinderton Close, Hinderton Road, Holborn Hill, Holt Hill, Holt Hill Terrace, Holt Road, Leighton Road, Marquis Street, New Chester Road, Old Chester Road, Olive Crescent, Olive Mount, Pearson Road, Pembroke Court, Queen Street, Rodney Street, Warrington Street, Westbury Street, Whetstone Lane. 

Area 6 Egremont South (LSOA E01007275) this includes properties in: 

Alverstone Road, Birnam Road, Church Close, Church Street, Churchmeadow Close, Clarendon Road, Dalehurst Close, Elmbank Street, Falkland Road, Gorsebank Street, Hallville Road, Liscard Road, Lumley Road, Northbrook Road, Oakbank Street, Park Avenue, Park Road, Parkside, Poulton Road, Redfield Close, Rivington Road, Trentham Road, Withington Road. 

Dated 24th June 2025

Jill Travers
Director of Law & Governance
Wirral Council
www.wirral.gov.uk/selectivelicensing

Selective Licensing in Wirral

The private rented sector is an essential part of our housing market and Wirral Council wants to support landlords and tenants to create a strong, healthy and vibrant sector. Some areas of Wirral have low demand and poor-quality housing where almost one in three privately rented homes fails to meet minimum acceptable property conditions. Poor housing standards have a detrimental effect on the health and welfare of those who live in them and on the local community. 

The Housing Act 2004 gives councils powers to designate areas for the selective licensing of private rented property, which allows our housing standards officers to inspect rental properties and ensure they meet minimum acceptable standards. Wirral currently has two selective licensing schemes covering 10 geographical areas: the 2024-29 scheme and the 2020-25 scheme, which is due to end on 30th September 2025. The new 2025-30 will begin on 1st October 2025. Details of the new scheme are included in the Designation Notice above and the Economy, Regeneration and Housing Committees’ decision taken on 17th June 2025 can be viewed here. 

Licenses for the new 2025 scheme will be available to purchase from 16th September 2025.

Standard Fee  £605 
Discount for Accredited Property*  £100 
Discount for applications submitted within 3 months of commencement or 3 month of buying a property in a designated Selective Licensing Area  £100 
Multiple Property Discount  £25 
EPC C and above discount  £150 
Applications for a license in the last 6 months of the designation will be eligible for a reduced fee of 50% (where properties have not been licensable prior to this time)   

Other fees

Charge for instalments  £100 
Administration fee for making paper application for licence  £100 
Fee for assisted application  £100 

 

Charge for instalments  £100 
Administration fee for making paper application for licence  £100 
Fee for assisted application  £100 

*Property accredited with Wirral Council Property Accreditation scheme or the proposed licence holder being accredited with National Residential Landlord Association (NRLA), Guild of Residential Landlords, a fellow of the Association Residential Letting Agents (FARLA), a member of the association Residential Letting Agents (MARLA) or Affiliated member of The National Approved Letting Scheme (NALS).

It is a criminal offence to let a privately rented property in a designated selective licensing area without a licence. Failure to apply for a licence or failure to comply with the conditions of the licence could lead to an unlimited fine on conviction or a Civil Penalty Notice of up to £30,000 being issued by the council. The council or tenants, including former tenants, may also apply for a Rent Repayment Order (RRO) to reclaim up to 12 months’ rent from the landlord where a property is, or was, required to be licensed. 

Holders of licenses are required to comply with the conditions of the selective licence (PDF)

Since the start of selective licensing in Wirral, approximately 3,500 properties have been licensed and of those inspected by council officers, 50% failed to meet minimum standards. 

Action taken by the council has driven up standards with the majority of this achieved through informal action. However, a small number of landlords have been prosecuted for either non-compliance with legal notices and/or not having a licence to operate. One landlord has been formally banned from operating as a landlord. This was the first banning order secured by a council in the North West of England.

A team of Healthy Homes Advocates work in each of the selective licensing areas, to offer residents free advice and services relating to a range of health and housing issues. Find out more of what Healthy Homes can do for you. 

Current schemes

The documents below provide maps of each of the three current schemes and a list of addresses, which are subject to periodic review and update.

Address lists are provided as guidance, however any private rented properties located within the LSOA boundary at the time of designation or over the lifetime of the scheme would be liable for a licence.

The PDFs below may not be suitable to view for people with disabilities, users of assistive technology or mobile phone devices.

Access the online selective licence register

How to apply for a selective licence

If you are a property owner or a managing agent of privately rented accommodation within one of the designated selective licensing areas, you can complete an online application.

Apply online for a licence

A paper application can be made, however an additional fee of £50 for the administration of the paper applications will apply. If you wish to be sent paper application forms please email selectivelicencing@wirral.gov.uk

It is the responsibility of the property owner, manager or managing agent to ensure the property has a valid licence at all times.

Current licence fees

Various discounts may apply to the below fees:

Selective licence bulky waste collection service

The selective licence bulky waste collection service is a free scheme which can be accessed by current licence holders of licenced residential properties situated within Wirral Council’s designated selective licence areas.

This service is operated by the council to assist licence holders in disposing of large household items from rented accommodation. A maximum of 12 bin bags (or equivalent) can be arranged to be collected by appointment with the council on a pre-set day. The maximum number of collections per calendar year has been set at 2.

Email the completed form to: selectivelicensing@wirral.gov.uk

Penalties and sanctions

Prosecution

Failure to apply for a licence when required is an offence punishable on summary conviction to an unlimited fine. Alternatively, 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 council.

Previous selective licence public notices

  • On 1 October 2020 selective licensing commenced within the following six areas of Wirral:
    • Birkenhead South
    • Egerton North
    • Egremont South
    • Egremont Promenade South
    • Seacombe Library
    • Tranmere Lairds

View the selective licensing public notice for 2020-25 scheme

  • On 1 April 2024 selective licensing commenced within the following four areas of Wirral:
    • Bidston and St James West
    • Birkenhead West
    • Egremont North
    • Seacombe St Paul’s

View the selective licensing public notice for 2024-2029 scheme

Application guidance

For further guidance on the application process email selectivelicensing@wirral.gov.uk.

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 selectivelicensing@wirral.gov.uk.

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