Selective licensing is a licensing regime regulating the private rental sector in a specified area designated by the relevant local housing authority (LHA) pursuant to Part 3 of the Housing Act 2004 (HA 2004). Selective licensing works in broadly the same way as the mandatory licensing provisions relating to houses in multiple occupations (HMOs). For further reading on the licensing process, see Practice Notes: Houses in multiple occupation (HMOs)—applying for a licence and Houses in multiple occupation (HMOs)—licensing regime.

Uniquely in relation to selective licensing, it applies to all private rental properties in a designated area, regardless whether the property is occupied by one or multiple households.

The intention behind these provisions is to enable an LHA to seek to improve the standards of rental stock available for private sector tenants by imposing licence requirements on private landlords who let property in such designated areas. For this reason, the selective licensing regime is available only in respect of areas which meet certain criteria namely those which are, or are be likely to be: