# Licensing in St. Helens

> St. Helens has no selective or additional licensing scheme in force.

- Checked 26 Oct 2026 (researched_at 2026-10-26, verified_at 2026-10-26)
- Region: North West
- ONS code: E08000013
- Web page: https://lettance.com/councils/st-helens
- API: https://lettance.com/api/v1/councils/st-helens

## Licensing schemes

### Mandatory HMO licence: Mandatory HMO licensing (St Helens fees)

- Status: In force (`in_force`)
- Area: Whole borough of St Helens (national scheme).
- Fee: Published standard fee: £248. Council licensing portal: the 5-year licence is an initial (year 1) application followed by 4 annual renewal applications (years 2-5). 'Year 1 (2026/2027) currently £248 for a year's licence; Year 2 – 5 (2026/2027) currently set at £248 per annum' (about £1,240 over five years at current rates). The £248 is the year-1 charge, not the whole five-year cost.
- Licence length: 5 years
- Who needs one: Private rented properties occupied by 5 or more people forming 2 or more households who share facilities such as kitchens or bathrooms, of any number of storeys.
- Apply: https://housinglicensing.sthelens.gov.uk/
- Confidence: High
- How we checked this: The council aims to process applications within 12 weeks. Its HMO page describes 'a five-year licence, which is renewable annually'.
- Sources: https://housinglicensing.sthelens.gov.uk/, https://www.sthelens.gov.uk/article/5208/Licence-applications-and-HMO-licensing-changes, https://www.sthelens.gov.uk/article/5207/Mandatory-licensing-laws-for-HMOs

## Article 4 for house shares

We found no Article 4 direction on house shares in St. Helens.

Council source: https://www.sthelens.gov.uk/article/14858/HMOs-planning-permission-and-the-HMO-Supplementary-Planning-Document

## Civil penalty policy

The council's policy sets how it decides the size of a fine. The version we found has been updated for the Renters' Rights Act.

Housing Civil Financial Penalty Policy 'Approved 2 September 2026', applying the statutory guidance 'Civil penalties under the Renters' Rights Act 2025 and other housing legislation' with £7,000 and £40,000 statutory maxima. Failure to obtain an HMO licence (s.72(1)) has a £17,000 starting point, adjusted 20% down or up by landlord type (£13,600 to £20,400). A Housing Enforcement Policy was approved alongside it.

Policy: https://www.sthelens.gov.uk/media/14977/Housing-Civil-Financial-Penalty-Policy/pdf/Housing_Civil_Financial_Penalty_Policy_Final_Approved.pdf?m=1789573580370

## Consultations

We found no consultations when we researched St. Helens.

## Not yet confirmed

We could not settle these points when we researched St. Helens on 26 October 2026. Check them with the council before you rely on them.

- No selective or additional licensing scheme was found. Checked: the Private Sector Renting hub, HMO guide pages, the housing strategies/policies page (last modified 16 September 2026), the council's housing licensing portal (which offers only mandatory HMO applications) and the A-Z index. The council does not state the absence.
- Committee papers were not searched for any licensing proposal.

## Landlord register

The national landlord register is separate from licensing. St. Helens is in North West, where registration is planned from 15 May 2027 to 14 August 2027. The regulations are still in draft. Read about the register: https://lettance.com/register

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From Lettance: https://lettance.com/councils/st-helens (catalogue edition 31 October 2026). This is information, not legal advice. Check the linked sources, and the council's own pages, before you act.