Free Landlord Selective Licensing Check & Application Pack (England)
A practical ZIP pack for checking an exact rental-property address against the relevant council's current selective licensing scheme and keeping a dated record of the check, application evidence, licence conditions and correspondence.
Important: this is a record-keeping aid, not a ruling or legal advice
The pack does not determine whether a property legally requires a licence, verify a council's rules, prove that an application or licence is valid, or confirm that any obligation has been met. Selective licensing is local, address-specific and time-sensitive. Check the exact property, scheme boundaries, exemptions, fees, conditions and dates against the relevant council's current information when you use the pack.
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The ZIP contains four PDF files totalling 8 printable pages, one editable Word document and one Excel workbook with a read-me plus four working sheets. The download email is transactional; the separate consent below covers practical landlord advice, resources and occasional product updates.
Preview of the two-page printable and editable One-Property Selective Licence Check Record included in the pack.
What this helps you do
- Follow a consistent, council-centred process for checking whether an exact rental-property address may fall within a selective licensing scheme.
- Record the local authority, scheme status, designation, boundary result, source and date checked for each property.
- Flag where the correct route may instead be mandatory or additional HMO licensing, or where an exemption needs confirmation.
- Keep written council clarification and a reasoned outcome with the property record when the position is uncertain.
- Prepare the application evidence requested by the council and record deadlines, staged fees, references and licence dates.
- Track licence conditions, supporting evidence, next actions and council correspondence across a portfolio.
How to use the pack
- Read the 10-step check and the fictional worked example before checking a live property.
- Start with the exact address, confirm the responsible local authority and use the council's own licensing pages, maps and designation information.
- Complete one property record even when no licence is currently required, and save a dated screenshot, PDF or written council reply where practical.
- Use the Excel register to keep the check, application, licence conditions and correspondence trail together across your portfolio.
- If a licence is required, follow that council's current application form, evidence list, fees and deadlines rather than treating the pack as a national checklist.
- Set a suitable recheck date or trigger because schemes and property circumstances change.
What's included
The 10-Step Selective Licence Check — PDF (3 pages)
A read-through guide covering the decision flow, ten council-check steps, the high-level difference between selective and HMO licensing routes, and the records worth capturing.
One-Property Selective Licence Check Record — PDF and Word (2 pages)
A printable or editable form for one property, including the licensing check, local application-evidence checklist, application details and licence review dates.
Selective Licensing Check & Application Register — Excel (5 worksheets)
A portfolio workbook with a read-me and four working sheets for property checks, applications, conditions and evidence, and council correspondence.
Worked Example — PDF (2 pages)
A completed fictional property record showing the level of detail expected. The example uses dated Leeds information for illustration only, not as guidance for another council.
Read Me — PDF (1 page)
A concise pack guide explaining the file order, how the parts work together, the source framework and the limits of the resource.
Keep personal information and source evidence secure
Application records can contain identity documents, addresses, occupancy details, contact information and correspondence. Keep tenancy documents and tenant personal information securely with the appropriate tenancy or property records, restrict access and retain only what you need for an appropriate period.
FAQ
Who is this pack for?
It is designed for private landlords and small managing teams checking residential rental properties in England against current local selective licensing schemes.
Does the pack tell me whether my property definitely needs a selective licence?
No. It gives you a repeatable checking and recording process. Use the relevant council's current scheme information and apply it to the exact address and facts. Ask the council in writing or take professional advice if the position remains unclear.
Does it cover mandatory and additional HMO licensing?
The guide gives a high-level comparison so you can identify that another licensing route may need checking. It is not an HMO operating guide. Confirm the occupancy facts, national criteria and the council's own HMO schemes before applying.
Which file formats are included?
The single ZIP contains four PDF files totalling 8 printable pages, one editable Word document and one Excel workbook with five worksheets: a read-me and four working registers.
Should I record a check when no licence is currently required?
Yes. Record the council source, scheme and boundary result, the date checked, your conclusion and a suitable recheck date or trigger. A scheme can be introduced, renewed, changed or ended after your check.
Can I use this pack outside England?
No. The pack follows the selective licensing framework for privately rented housing in England. Different licensing and registration regimes apply elsewhere in the UK.
Keep supporting property compliance evidence inspection-ready
Once you have established the position from the authoritative council source, CertNudge helps landlords organise appropriate property compliance records and renewal dates by property.
Try CertNudge freeGeneral information and practical record-keeping templates, not legal advice. The pack does not determine whether a property needs a licence, verify council information, prove that an application or licence is valid, or guarantee compliance or an outcome. Check the relevant council's current information and obtain appropriate professional advice where needed.