Wirral: landlord licensing

Wirral operates discretionary property licensing. Here is what is in force, what is coming, and how to check whether your property is affected.

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Active selective licensing

Selective licensing applies to ordinary private rented homes (not just HMOs) within a designated area.

Selective licensing

active

Four designated neighbourhood areas within Birkenhead/Wallasey

Dates: 1 Apr 2024 – 31 Mar 2029
Approx. fee: £585
Wards / areas: Bidston and St James West, Birkenhead West, Egremont North, Seacombe St Paul's
Designated streets: 178

Show the 178 designated streets

Transcribed from the council's published designation. Where only part of a street is covered, the house numbers are shown exactly as the council writes them.

Arkle Road (45-71 ODDS)
Arkle Road (42-60 EVENS)
Boundary Road (42-76 EVENS)
Boundary Road (SEXTONS COTTAGE)
Challis Street (15-41 ODDS)
Challis Street (2-50 EVENS)
Collin Road (1-36 ALL)
Collin Road (33-48 ALL)
Curlender Close (1-43 ODDS)
Curlender Close (2-50 EVENS)
Egan Road (1-35 ODDS)
Egan Road (2-32 EVENS)
Elmtree Grove (1-11 ODDS)
Elmtree Grove (2-28 EVENS)
Flaybrick Close (1-30 ALL)
Gautby Road (133-141 ODDS)
Hoblyn Road (1-55 ODDS)
Hoblyn Road (2-62 EVENS)
Hoylake Road (1-21 ODDS)
Hoylake Road (23-41 ODDS)
Hoylake Road (53-87 ODDS)
Hoylake Road (2-48A EVENS)
Hoylake Road (56-80 EVENS)
Hoylake Road (108-114 EVENS)
Larch Grove (1-25 ODDS)
Larch Grove (2-34 EVENS)
Maplewood Grove (1-33 ODDS)
Maplewood Grove (2-28 EVENS)
Mercer Road (21-47 ODDS)
Mercer Road (10-48 EVENS)
Naylor Road (1-31 ODDS)
Naylor Road (2-40 EVENS)
Oakwood Drive (1-49 ODDS)
Oakwood Drive (2-46 EVENS)
Oakwood Park (1-9 ODDS)
Oakwood Park (2-26 EVENS)
Observatory Road (1-43 ODDS)
Observatory Road (2-36 EVENS)
Rosemary Close (1-8 ALL)
St James Road (11-13 ODDS)
Tapestry Gardens (1-59 ODDS)
Tapestry Gardens (2-24 EVENS)
Alvanley Place (1-27 ODDS)
Alvanley Place (4-14 EVENS)
Bentinck Close (1-11 ODDS)
Bentinck Close (2-8 EVENS)
Bentinck Place (1-25 ODDS)
Bentinck Place (2-24 EVENS)
Bentinck Street (1-55 ODDS)
Bentinck Street (2-134 EVENS)
Cathcart Street (15-19 MCGILL ODDS COURT)
Cathcart Street (14-18 MCGILL EVENS COURT)
Claughton Road (295-323 ODDS)
Claughton Road (228-282 EVENS)
Claughton Place (1-5 ODDS)
Claughton Place (2-12 EVENS)
Conway Drive (1-31 ODDS)
Conway Drive (2-18 EVENS)
Conway Street (183-199 ODDS)
Conway Street (1-45 CONWAY POINT ALL)
Conway Street (260-300 EVENS)
Conway Street (1-11 MCGILL ODDS COURT)
Conway Street (2-12 MCGILL EVENS COURT)
Cole Street (1-17 ODDS)
Cole Street (2-10 EVENS)
Craven Street (75-125 ODDS)
Craven Street (12-154 EVENS)
Craven Close (1-11 ODDS)
Craven Close (2-18 EVENS)
Edgar Court (1-16 ALL)
Exmouth Way (2-46 EVENS)
Exmouth Gardens (1-19 ODDS)
Fox Street (1-29 ODDS)
Gladstone Close (1-19 ODDS)
Grange Road West (41-69 ODDS)
Grange Road West (70-88 EVENS)
Grange Place (1-10 ALL)
Hilton Close (1-11A ODDS)
Keightley Street (2-6 EVENS)
Knowles Street (1-6 ALL)
Park Road East (1-103 ODDS)
Park Close (1-11A ODDS)
Park Close (2-14 EVENS (COMMENCED 1ST JULY 2024))
Paterson Street (1-157 ODDS (COMMENCED 1ST JULY 2024))
Paterson Street (2-150 EVENS (COMMENCED 1ST JULY 2024))
Brook Close (1-29 ODDS)
Brook Close (2-24 EVENS)
Churchill Grove (1-10 ALL)
Devon Avenue (1-18 ALL)
Edenhurst Avenue (1-16 ALL)
Empress Road (1-24 ALL)
Exeter Road (1-45 ODDS)
Exeter Road (2-48 EVENS)
Greenwood Lane (1-67B ODDS)
Greenwood Lane (69-91 ODDS)
Greenwood Lane (2-56 EVENS)
Greenwood Lane (58-94A EVENS)
Ivor Road (3-41 ODDS)
Ivor Road (2-36 EVENS)
Manor Lane (2-18 EVENS)
Manor Road (151-161A ODDS)
Manor Road (1-12 MANOR MANSIONS ALL)
Manor Road (73-99 ODDS)
Manor Road (105-137 ODDS)
Manor Road (102-130 EVENS)
Martins Lane (70-90 EVENS)
Oxford Road (1-57 ODDS)
Oxford Road (2-72 EVENS)
Penkett Road (1-7 ODDS)
Penkett Road (8 EVENS)
Pooley Close (7 (APARTMENTS 1- 9) ALL)
Seabank Road (55-59 ODDS)
Serpentine Road (45-93 ODDS)
Serpentine Road (70-96A EVENS)
Stringhey Road (1-27 ODDS)
Stringhey Road (29-61 ODDS)
Stringhey Road (12-50 EVENS)
Trafalgar Road (78-90 EVENS)
Upper Rice Lane (1-35 ODDS)
Upper Rice Lane (14-30 EVENS)
Vicarage Grove (1-33 ODDS)
Vicarage Grove (2-36 EVENS)
Walmsley Street (1-21 ODDS)
Walmsley Street (10-22 EVENS)
Wesley Avenue (1-23 ODDS)
Wesley Avenue (2-24 EVENS)
Withens Lane (34 (A-J) ALL)
Acacia Grove (1-14 ALL)
Belle Vue Road (1-13 ODDS)
Berwick Way (1-23 ALL)
Birkenhead Rd (58A-64 EVENS)
Briardale Rd (1-23 ALL)
Bridle Avenue (1-21 ALL)
Bridle Rd (1-5, 31-45 ODDS)
Bridle Rd (1-21 2 CHURCHLANDS)
Bridle Rd (12-24 EVENS)
Church Crescent (1-7 ALL)
Church Rd (20-40 EVENS)
Church Rd (65-107 ODDS)
Geneva Rd (2-64 EVENS)
Hawthorne Grove (2-22 EVENS)
Hawthorne Grove (1-77 ODDS)
James Street (1-20 ALL)
Lever Avenue (1-14 ALL)
Lucerne Rd (1-51 ODDS)
Lucerne Rd (4-64 EVENS)
Luke Street (1-15 ODDS)
Matthew Close (1-7 ALL)
Matthew Street (13-35 ODDS)
New Street (1-51 ODDS)
New Street (2-36 EVENS)
Norman Road (1-13 ODDS)
Norman Road (2-10 EVENS)
North William Street (1)
Oakdale Avenue (2-22 EVENS)
Oakdale Avenue (1-33 ODDS)
Palatine Road (1-65 ODDS)
Palatine Road (2-62 EVENS)
Palermo Close (2-8 EVENS)
Palermo Close (1-41 ODDS)
Percy Road (3-13 ODDS)
Peter Street (2-20 EVENS)
Primrose Grove (1-12 ALL)
St Pauls Avenue (1-11 ODDS)
St Pauls Avenue (2-6 EVENS)
St Pauls Road (1-33 ODDS)
St Pauls Road (35-73A ODDS)
St Pauls Road (75A-85C ODDS)
St Pauls Road (2-46 EVENS)
St Pauls Road (50-110B EVENS)
Vernon Avenue (1-29 ODDS)
Vivian Avenue (1-15 ODDS)
Wheatland Lane (55-81 ODDS)
Wheatland Lane (101-107 ODDS)
Wheatland Lane (311-335 ODDS)
Wheatland Lane (74-82 EVENS)
Wheatland Lane (90 EVENS)
William Street (1-14 ALL)

Official local authority licensing designation

Selective licensing

active

Six designated neighbourhood areas in Birkenhead, Tranmere and Egremont

Dates: 1 Oct 2025 – 30 Sept 2030
Approx. fee: £605
Wards / areas: Birkenhead Central, Lower Tranmere, Tranmere North, Hamilton Square B, Tranmere Lairds, Egremont South
Designated streets: 189

Show the 189 designated streets

Transcribed from the council's published designation. Where only part of a street is covered, the house numbers are shown exactly as the council writes them.

Beckwith Street East (2-14 EVENS ONLY)
Borough Road (254A, 262A)
Brookland Road (1-15)
Cardigan Avenue (1-22 PINE COURT)
Cardigan Avenue (4-16)
Carlisle Mews (7-30)
Circular Road (2-26)
Clarendon Close (1-27)
Claughton Road (90A-226 EVENS ONLY)
Claughton Road (273-295A ODDS ONLY)
Clifton Road (2-42 EVENS ONLY)
Clifton Road (44 1-10 DELLA ROBBIA HOUSE)
Clifton Road (1-12 CLIFTON GATE)
Conway Street (198 1-10 THE MEADOWS)
Corfu Street (1-5)
Dover Close (1-24)
Eastbourne Road (1-27)
Elm Street (2-20 EVENS)
Elm Street (22 1-20 ELM COURT)
Exmouth Close (1-11)
Exmouth Street (40)
Fearnley Road (5-36)
Grange Road (257)
Grange Road (ST WERBURGHS PRESBYTERY)
Grange Road West (1 1-8 GRANGE HOUSE)
Grange Road West (1-37 ODDS ONLY)
Grange Road West (2-68 EVENS ONLY)
Hazel Road (1-23)
Hollybank Road (4 1-12 HOLLYBANK COURT)
Lowwood Grove (5-15)
Lowwood Road (1-42 INCLUDES 1-12 FIELD HOUSE)
Lowwood Road (1-7 THE MOORINGS)
Maritime Park (1-51)
Menai Street (1-49)
Oliver Street (1- 60 MARKET COURT)
Oxton Road (2-42 EVENS ONLY)
Oxton Road (1-11 ODDS ONLY)
Parkfield Avenue (1-25)
Parkfield Avenue (26 1- 68 ROSE COURT)
Parkfield Place (10-24 EVENS ONLY)
Simpson Street (1-34)
Sisters Way (1-27)
St Laurence Close (1-4)
St Laurence Drive (2-10 EVENS ONLY)
The Woodlands (1-87 INCLUDES 1-16 GRANGEWOOD COURT, 1-20 FEARNLEY HALL, 1- 12 MITCHELL COURT)
Vincent Street (2)
Warwick Close (1-32)
Whetstone Lane (95, 99 INCLUDES 1-44 BROOKS COURT, 1-12 ST GEORGE HOUSE)
Alison Avenue (1-27)
Brougham Avenue (1-61)
Cobden Avenue (1-19)
Cobden Court (1-6)
Downham Road (1-41 ODDS ONLY)
Fairhaven Close (1-24)
Grenville Road (1-45)
Grenville Way (1-34)
Grenville Way (1-41 CLIFFORD GRANGE)
Lever Terrace (3-13 ODDS ONLY)
Lydbrook Close (1-23)
Meadow Lane (26-61)
Meadow Park (1-6)
Meadowfield Close (1-51)
Mersey Walk (1-35)
Moorland Road (1-79)
New Chester Road (228)
Old Chester Road (1-22 MERSEY GARDENS)
Old Chester Road (133-189 ODDS ONLY)
Old Chester Road (210 1-22 SOUTHWICK COURT)
Orchard Court (1-19)
Parkside Road (1-84)
Peel Avenue (1-37)
Quigley Street (1-33)
Southwick Road (1-20)
St Pauls Road (1-53)
St Pauls Road (54-70 EVENS ONLY)
Stanley Court (1-10)
Strathlorne Close (1-37)
Summerford Close (1-17)
Union Street (19-58)
Wye Close (1-26)
Beech Road (2-46 EVENS ONLY)
Borough Road (367-391 ODDS ONLY)
Cedar Street (1-15)
Charlecombe Street (1-26)
Chesnut Grove (41-68)
Derby Road (12-18 EVENS ONLY)
Elm Grove (1-38)
Hollybank Road (6-46 INCLUDES 1-12 HAWTHORNE HOUSE)
Larch Road (1-87)
Laurel Road (2-30)
Maple Street (1-22)
Milton Road East (1-16)
Mounsey Road (1-18)
Park Grove (1-4)
Poplar Grove (1-2)
Raffles Road (8-124)
Rawcliffe Road (1-21)
Shewell Close (1-21)
Sycamore Road (1-27)
Tatton Road (1-19)
Wellington Terrace (1-15)
Whalley Road (1-13)
Whetstone Lane (35-63 ODDS ONLY)
Whetstone Lane (70-162 EVENS ONLY, INCLUDES 1-12 WHETSTONE COURT, 1-9 WELLINGTON HOUSE)
Willmer Road (1-104)
Albion Street (1-3 THE COACH HOUSE)
Argyle Street (19-97 ODDS ONLY. INCLUDES FLATS 1-10 AT 43A, OLD POST OFFICE HOTEL)
Argyle Street (28-112B EVENS ONLY. INCLUDES 1-12 ARGYLE HOUSE)
Castle Street (1-40)
Chester Street (61-85 ODDS ONLY)
Chester Street (38-128 EVENS ONLY)
Church Street (38-131 INCLUDES 1-131 PRIORY WHARF)
Cross Street (1-83 ODDS ONLY)
Dacre Street (1A-1B)
Douglas Street (1-15 INCLUDES 1A-3C AT 1 DOUGLAS STREET, 1-4 AT 15 DOUGLAS STREET)
Duncan Street (3-17 ODDS ONLY)
Duncan Street (2A-2C, 4A- 4C, 8)
Duncan Street (1-22 HAMILTON PLAZA)
Grange Road East (61-77 ODDS ONLY)
Hamilton Square (1-62)
Hamilton Street (30A-56A)
Hornby Street (1-30)
Lorn Street (2-22)
Lorn Street (1-19 LORN COURT)
Market Street (2-82A)
Mortimer Street (1-6)
Oliver Street East (28-36)
Price Street (13/15 1-40 MARKET WELLS)
Price Street (41/43 STORK HOTEL)
Water Street (1-43)
Argyle Street South (8-178)
Clifton Road (1A-53 ODDS ONLY, INCLUDES 1-8 CLIFTON COURT, 1-16 VENTURE COURT)
Fairview (1-7)
Frodsham Street (16-28 EVENS ONLY)
Green Lane (2-18)
Helmingham Grove (1-23 ODDS ONLY)
Hillside Close (1-5)
Hillside Road (34-60)
Hinderton Close (1-11)
Hinderton Road (2-165)
Holborn Hill (1-38)
Holt Hill (1-87)
Holt Hill Terrace (3-23 ODDS ONLY)
Holt Road (12-82 EVENS ONLY)
Leighton Road (1-55)
Marquis Street (1-31)
New Chester Road (2)
Old Chester Road (1 GREEN LANE STATION HOUSE)
Old Chester Road (2-48 EVENS ONLY)
Old Chester Road (45-57 ODDS ONLY)
Olive Crescent (1-12)
Olive Mount (2-48 INCLUDES THE WILLOWS)
Pearson Road (1-2)
Pembroke Court (1-65)
Queen Street (1-49)
Rodney Street (19-182)
Rodney Street (1-73 VINCENT NAUGHTON COURT)
Warrington Street (1-2 MARQUIS MEWS)
Warrington Street (1-19 RIVER VIEW)
Warrington Street (1-19 MERSEY VIEW)
Warrington Street (1-8 PRIORY VIEW)
Westbury Street (1-10)
Whetstone Lane (101-135 ODDS ONLY)
Alverstone Road (1-42)
Birnam Road (2-56)
Church Close (1-15)
Church Street (21-219 ODDS ONLY)
Churchmeadow Close (2-11)
Clarendon Road (37-90)
Clarendon Road (50 1-16 ASH TREE APARTMENTS)
Dalehurst Close (1-16)
Elmbank Street (1-11)
Falkland Road (49-158)
Gorsebank Street (1-12)
Hallville Road (2-50 EVENS ONLY)
Liscard Road (62A-107 INCLUDES 1-10 ROKLIS BUILDING)
Liscard Road (SOUTH LODGE)
Lumley Road (1-38)
Northbrook Road (1-79)
Oakbank Street (1-9)
Park Avenue (1-8)
Park Road (1-77)
Parkside (2-46)
Poulton Road (102-122 EVENS ONLY)
Poulton Road (117-153 ODDS ONLY)
Redfield Close (1-17)
Rivington Road (1-44)
Trentham Road (1-22)
Withington Road (1-22)

Official local authority licensing designation

Recently expired

Selective licensing

expired

Six designated neighbourhood areas. Wirral's first selective scheme; expired 30 Sep 2025.

Dates: 1 Oct 2020 – 30 Sept 2025
Wards / areas: Birkenhead South, Egerton North, Egremont South, Egremont Promenade South, Seacombe Library, Tranmere Lairds

Official local authority licensing designation

Mandatory HMO licensing (applies everywhere)

Regardless of local schemes, any property in Wirral let to 5 or more people forming 2 or more households, who share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet, needs a mandatory HMO licence under the Housing Act 2004. Licences last up to 5 years and the fee is set by the council.

Penalties for operating unlicensed

Civil penalty of up to £40,000 per offence (raised from £30,000 on 1 May 2026).
Rent Repayment Order of up to 24 months' rent, claimable by the tenant.
Unlimited fine on criminal prosecution, plus possible banning order.
Once the national PRS Database is live, unregistered landlords can be blocked from regaining possession.

Notes

Named neighbourhood designations rather than full electoral wards. No additional HMO scheme.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a landlord licence in Wirral?

Wirral operates 2 selective licensing scheme(s). Whether your specific property needs a licence depends on its exact location and how it is let. Separately, mandatory HMO licensing still applies, to any property let to 5 or more people forming 2 or more households.

What is the penalty for an unlicensed property in Wirral?

Operating a licensable property without a licence can lead to a civil penalty of up to £40,000 per offence, a Rent Repayment Order of up to 24 months' rent, an unlimited fine on prosecution, and a banning order for serious or repeat offenders.

Can a tenant in Wirral claim rent back from an unlicensed landlord?

Yes. Letting a property that required a licence, without one, is an offence under section 72(1) or section 95(1) of the Housing Act 2004, and a tenant can apply to the First-tier Tribunal for a Rent Repayment Order of up to 24 months' rent for offences committed on or after 1 May 2026. No conviction is needed first, but the tribunal must be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the offence was committed, and the application must be made within two years of it. Tribunals award a percentage of the rent rather than the maximum, following the method in Acheampong v Roman [2022] UKUT 239 (LC).

Does your property need a licence?

Enter your postcode for an instant free check of every scheme that could apply.

Free scheme check · £7.99 for the full property report

Renting in Wirral?

If your home needed a licence and did not have one, you may be able to claim rent back

A Rent Repayment Order can be up to 24 months' rent, you apply to the tribunal yourself, and your landlord does not need to have been prosecuted. The deadline is two years from the offence.

Check my home free How Rent Repayment Orders work

🏛️ Government-backed data: built from official local authority licensing designations, ONS council boundaries and UK housing legislation (Housing Act 2004), verified as of July 2026. PRSCheck is an information service, not legal advice. Many schemes are designated at street or part-ward level; the paid report confirms the exact boundary and official source for your address. Browse all councils.