Leeds - designation of the residential areas for Selective Licencing

LEEDS CITY COUNCIL
HOUSING ACT 2004
DESIGNATION OF AN AREA AS SUBJECT TO SELECTIVE LICENSING

On the 3rd November 2025 Leeds City Council (“The Council”) of Civic Hall Calverley Street Leeds LS1 1UR in exercising its powers under Section 80 of the Housing Act 2004 (as amended) (“the Act”), made a designation of the residential area of parts of Armley, Beeston and Holbeck, Burmantofts and Richmond Hill, Farnley and Wortley, Gipton and Harehills, Hunslet and Riverside wards (“The Designation”) as subject to Selective Licensing.
The Designation does not need to be confirmed by the Secretary of State as it falls within a description of designations for which the Secretary of State has issued a General Approval under Section 82 of the Housing Act 2004: Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation and Selective Licensing of Other Residential Accommodation (England) General Approval 2024.
The Designation will come into force on the 9th February 2026 and remain in force for a period of five years unless the scheme is revoked earlier by the Council.
The Designation includes all private rented properties within parts of the Armley, Beeston and Holbeck, Burmantofts and Richmond Hill, Farnley and Wortley, Gipton and Harehills, and Hunslet and Riverside wards that fall within the designated area. The designation boundary is detailed on the map at Annex A of the designation and set out below, this is the area known as “East South and West Leeds”. Any private landlord will require a licence to rent out their property within the designated area, subject to certain exemptions. Any landlord, managing agent or tenant can contact the Selective Licensing Team to determine whether their property is affected by the Designation.
A copy of the Designation or any information relating to it will be available for inspection free of charge during normal working hours at Leeds City Council, Knowsthorpe Gate, Leeds LS9 0NP. Alternatively, it will be available on the Leeds City Council website at

www.leeds.gov.uk/selectivelicensing.

General advice and application forms for licences can be obtained by contacting Leeds City Council’s Selective Licensing Team either by telephone 0113 535 1369 or by email at

eswselective.licensing@leeds.gov.uk.

Alternatively, they can be obtained from Leeds City Council’s website

www.leeds.gov.uk/selectivelicensing.

Any person who has control or manages a licensable house without a licence, or, being a person on whom restrictions or obligations are imposed under such a licence, fails to comply with the conditions of the licence, will be liable to enforcement action. This may be by way of a civil penalty of up to £30,000 or prosecution which, on summary conviction, carries an unlimited fine. In addition, such persons may be prevented from holding a licence and/or may be made subject to a rent repayment order. No section 21 notice may be given in relation to a shorthold tenancy of an unlicensed house so long as it remains so.
Dated 3rd November 2025
Signed
Name James Rogers
Director of Communities Housing and Environment