Selective licensing - apply for a licence

Selecting licensing - we have the power to introduce 'selective licensing schemes' in designated areas of Manchester. In these designated areas landlords or managing agents need to have a licence for each house/flat that they rent out. These licences have a fee and each house/flat must comply with the conditions set by the licence.

Some houses may be exempt from licensing. See which houses you don’t need a licence for.

In situations where there is no prospect of the property being licensed, we can apply for an Interim Management Order (IMO) to take over the management of the property. If granted the IMO would last up to a year until suitable arrangements are put in to place. If this takes longer, we can apply for a Final Management Order (FMO), which if granted can last up to five years.

If a licence is granted, a licence will be issued with a number of conditions which the licence holder must comply with, these include:

• the statutory conditions in schedule 4 of the Housing Act 2004; and
• selective conditions, that are relevant to Manchester.

A licence holder who fails to comply with any of the conditions may be committing a criminal offence and face prosecution. If convicted they could receive an unlimited fine.

Read more about selective licensing

Fees and additional charges

Payment will be required electronically once your application has been approved.

Apply for a selective licence

Applications will be processed within six weeks.

We can refuse to grant a licence if the person or manager applying is not a ‘fit and proper’ person or if they are not the most suitable person to be the licence holder or the management arrangements are not satisfactory.

Read schedule 4 of the Housing Act 2004