Liverpool City Council to Recruit 34 New Officers to Strengthen Landlord Licensing Enforcement
Liverpool City Council is set to recruit dozens of new staff to clamp down on poor conditions in the private rented housing sector.
Under Liverpool’s Landlord Licensing scheme, known as Selective Licensing, all privately rented properties within designated areas must be licensed.
The scheme enables the council to ensure that the 46,000 rented homes covered meet minimum safety standards to protect vulnerable tenants.
This includes tackling fire and electrical hazards, excess cold and damp, and addressing anti-social behaviour.
34 new officers to boost enforcement for Landlord Licensing Enforcement
Seven new recruits will join immediately to expand the council’s intelligence-led enforcement team.
They will focus on issues such as unlicensed flats above shops, landlords demanding cash rent payments, and cases involving suspected criminal activity.
A further 27 officers will be hired over the coming financial year to strengthen enforcement capacity and prepare for the introduction of the Renters Rights Act 2025, which comes into force on 1 May 2026.
The legislation introduces a formal duty to enforce, placing greater responsibilities on local authorities to uphold standards in the private rented sector.
Once recruitment is complete, the council will have 120 staff dedicated to tackling issues within Liverpool’s private rented housing market.
City-wide licensing consultation planned for 2027
Liverpool City Council is also preparing to consult on a new Landlord Licensing scheme from April 2027.
The current scheme covers around 80 per cent of privately rented properties, with some areas not included. One option under consideration is to extend licensing across the whole city.
Funding for the expanded enforcement team will come from additional income generated through the Landlord Licensing scheme, alongside Houses of Multiple Occupation licensing fees and Government funding to support implementation of the Renters Rights Act.
Council Leader Cllr Liam Robinson said:
“We are committed to working alongside landlords to ensure rental properties in Liverpool are safe and well managed, and to taking action in cases where they are not.
“Landlords with properties in designated areas have a legal duty to sign up for the scheme, and we now have 5,000 more properties than anticipated, which shows the size and scale of the sector in Liverpool and why we need to dedicate appropriate resources to the issue.
“By putting more boots on the ground, we can make a real difference to people who are living in conditions that are simply not good enough and whose landlords are in breach of the law.”
Cabinet Member for Housing Cllr Hetty Wood added:
“The Renters Rights Act, which becomes law later this year, is a once-in-a-generation change to the private rented sector and will fundamentally improve security, quality and fairness for renters.
“It will make a real difference to tenants, particularly when combined with our Landlord Licensing scheme.
“We will be using our powers under the legislation to make sure that landlords and letting agents meet their legal obligations.
“Our plan to renew the Landlord Licensing scheme will also strengthen our ability to take action where needed.”
