Sefton Council landlord licensing in Southport
- Mandatory HMO licensing applies to properties with 5 or more persons from 2 or more households
- Sefton Council has designated selective licensing areas in Southport — all landlords in these wards must hold a licence regardless of property size
- Check Sefton Council's current housing licensing register before letting in any Southport ward
- Property Portal and PRS Ombudsman registration are mandatory under the Renters' Rights Act 2025
Renters' Rights Act 2025 — key obligations
- Section 21 no-fault evictions abolished from 1 May 2026
- Fixed-term tenancies cannot be granted for new lets — all tenancies are periodic
- Property Portal registration mandatory before any property can be let
- PRS Ombudsman membership mandatory for all private landlords in England
- Rent increases must use the statutory Section 13 notice; one rise per 12-month rolling window
EPC requirements
- Current minimum Band E — properties below Band E cannot be let
- EPC Band C is confirmed government policy for 2030
- Southport's coastal location and older Edwardian stock can present retrofit challenges — obtain a current RdSAP 10 assessment
- Check whether a cost cap exemption applies if reaching Band C would cost more than the proposed £15,000 limit
Gas and electrical safety
- Annual gas safety check (CP12) by Gas Safe registered engineer
- Five-yearly EICR mandatory; C1/C2 defects remediated within 28 days
- Smoke alarms on every storey; CO alarms in rooms with gas boilers and solid fuel appliances
- Coastal salt-air environment may accelerate EICR deterioration — inspect promptly if any electrical faults reported
Deposit protection
- Protect deposit in DPS, myDeposits or TDS within 30 days of receipt
- Serve Prescribed Information within 30 days
- Maximum deposit 5 weeks' rent for rents under £50,000 per year
- Failure to protect exposes landlord to penalty of 1–3 times the deposit and prevents valid Section 8 service