Mandatory HMO licensing in Rochdale
Whatever the local schemes, a licence is required for any house in multiple occupation let to 5 or more people forming 2 or more households who share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet. This rule is national and has applied since 1 October 2018. Letting without a required licence is a criminal offence under section 72 of the Housing Act 2004. Read do I need an HMO licence? and how to apply.
Rochdale HMO licence register
The council's public register of licensed properties: Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council public register. Use it to check whether a property already holds a licence, for example before you buy. Licences do not transfer to a new owner.
Rochdale Article 4 and HMO planning rules
Rochdale publishes Article 4 data to the national planning data platform, but none of its 6 published areas are labelled as an HMO direction. That does not prove there is no HMO Article 4 direction: check the council's planning pages.
Licensing and planning are separate. A licence does not give planning permission, and planning permission does not replace a licence. See Article 4 and HMOs.
Tribunal record: rent repayment orders and civil penalties in Rochdale
Figures below count First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) decisions published on GOV.UK for properties located in Rochdale. They show how tenants and the council use enforcement here. Most civil penalties are paid without appeal, so they never reach the tribunal.
| Rent repayment order decisions | 0 (0 in the last 3 years) |
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| Civil penalty appeals | 0 |
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| Other Housing Act appeals (licence terms, notices, orders) | 2 |
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If you have let without a licence you needed, read unlicensed property: what to do, rent repayment orders and civil penalties.
Landlord database deadline for Rochdale
Rochdale is in the North West region of the new Private Rented Sector Database. Registration opens 15 May 2027 and the deadline to register is 14 Aug 2027. The published fee is £65 per property per year. Database registration is separate from council licensing: you may need both. See register your rental property.
Get help with a Rochdale licence application
We can prepare a licence application for you for a fixed fee; the council's own fee is separate. See pricing for what is included and how we make money. You can also run a full address check on the postcode checker.
Rochdale licensing: common questions
Is there selective licensing in Rochdale?
We found no selective licensing scheme on Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council's website as of 28 Sep 2026. Mandatory HMO licensing still applies to 5+ people in 2+ households. Confirm with the council.
How much is an HMO licence in Rochdale?
Additional HMO licensing: £1,011 (£1,011 application + £53 inspection fee per habitable room (5-year)). Fees for mandatory HMO licences are set by the council and published on its fees page.
Does Rochdale have an Article 4 direction for HMOs?
Rochdale publishes Article 4 data to the national planning data platform, but none of its 6 published areas are labelled as an HMO direction. That does not prove there is no HMO Article 4 direction: check the council's planning pages.
Where is the Rochdale HMO licence register?
The council publishes its public register of licences here: Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council register. Councils must keep a register of licences under section 232 of the Housing Act 2004.
Related: selective licensing in England · additional HMO licensing · HMO licence cost · HMO rules · HMO hub
Sources
Last checked 28 Sep 2026. Information, not legal advice. Licensing schemes change often; always confirm with the council before you act.