Guide for apartment owners
Letting your Liverpool apartment
For owners of city centre and waterfront flats, including Mann Island, Liverpool Waters, Princes Dock, the Baltic Triangle and Ropewalks. What to check before you let, what the council needs, and what it costs.
Does your flat need a licence?
Liverpool's selective licensing scheme runs from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2027. It covers 16 wards:
- Central
- Greenbank
- Kensington and Fairfield
- Riverside
- Tuebrook and Stoneycroft
- Anfield
- County
- Everton
- Kirkdale
- Old Swan
- Picton
- Princes Park
- St Michael's
- Warbreck
- Wavertree
- Fazakerley
City centre and waterfront flats sit in Central or Riverside ward. So almost every apartment let in L1, L2 and L3 needs a selective licence (council licence).
The licence costs £704 for up to five years. Apply before the tenancy starts. The licence comes with conditions on safety certificates, inspections and the information you give your tenant.
Check your ward with the council's landlord licensing postcode checker.
A separate HMO licence applies if five or more people who are not one household share the flat.
See every council's scheme, fee and dates on our landlord licensing schemes by council page.
Leasehold first
Most apartments are owned on a lease. Before you let, check three things.
- The lease allows subletting, and whether it needs consent.
- Whether the freeholder or management company needs notice, or charges a fee to register the letting.
- The block insurance stays valid once the flat is let. Tell the insurer or managing agent.
Keep the building manager's contact details. Repairs to the fabric of the building, such as the roof, lifts, communal areas and outside walls, usually go through them rather than you.
The certificates
- Gas safety certificate (CP12) every year, if the flat has gas. Many apartments are all electric.
- Electrical safety report (EICR) at least every five years.
- Energy certificate (EPC) rated E or above. The government has proposed raising the minimum to C, so check your rating.
- A smoke alarm on every floor, and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a fixed combustion appliance.
- The deposit protected in a deposit protection scheme within 30 days.
- The government's How to Rent guide given to the tenant.
- A Right to Rent check on every adult tenant before the tenancy starts.
What a Liverpool city centre flat rents for
- Two bedroom flat
- £1,140 a month
- Three bedroom
- £1,545 a month
Typical asking rents for Liverpool City Centre, from the figures on our Liverpool City Centre page, rounded to the nearest £5. We do not hold a reliable one bedroom figure yet, so we do not show one.
What it costs to have it managed
High street full management in Liverpool is typically 10% to 15% of the rent, often with setup and renewal fees on top.
Caso charges one fee: 8% of rent + VAT, capped at £150 a month including VAT. If you have two or more properties with us, it is 5% + VAT. No setup, renewal or exit fees.
- Rent paid within 3 working days of the tenant paying.
- Repairs charged at cost, with no markup.
- Your selective licence applied for and tracked to renewal.
Property management in Liverpool City Centre · Property management fees in Liverpool · Pricing
Before the first tenant moves in
Letting your Liverpool apartment: ten things to tick.
Questions apartment owners ask
- Does my Liverpool city centre flat need a selective licence?
- Almost certainly. Liverpool's selective licensing scheme runs from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2027 and covers 16 wards, including Central and Riverside, where city centre and waterfront flats sit. You need the licence before the tenancy starts. Use the council's postcode checker to confirm your ward.
- How much does a Liverpool selective licence cost?
- The council's fee is £704 for a licence of up to five years. Licence conditions cover safety certificates, inspections and the information you give tenants.
- Can I let my flat if I own it on a lease?
- Usually, but check the lease first. Some leases need the freeholder's or management company's consent, a notice, or a registration fee before you let. Also tell the block insurer so the building cover stays valid.
- Who fixes repairs in a let apartment?
- Repairs inside the flat are the landlord's job. Repairs to the fabric of the building, such as the roof, lifts, communal areas and outside walls, are usually for the freeholder or building manager. Keep the building manager's contact to hand.
- What does it cost to have a Liverpool flat managed?
- High street full management is typically 10% to 15% of the rent plus setup and renewal fees. Caso charges one fee: 8% + VAT, capped each month, or 5% + VAT if you have two or more properties with us. No setup, renewal or exit fees.
General information, not legal advice. Check the council's current fees and conditions before you apply.
