Do You Need a Licence for a Short-Term Let in St Helens, Warrington, Manchester or Merseyside?

Here’s What Landlords Need to Know

If you’ve ever thought about listing your home on Airbnb or renting out a property short-term, you’re not alone. Short-term lets can offer fantastic income potential, especially in areas with strong travel links or event tourism. But before you throw open your doors to guests, there’s one important question to ask:

Do you need a licence or permission for a short-term let in your area?

Let’s break it down by location.

What Is a Short-Term Let?

A short-term let (also called a holiday let or temporary accommodation) typically means renting out a furnished property for a period less than 90 days at a time, often through platforms like Airbnb, Booking.com, or for corporate stays. This is different from traditional long-term renting or lodgers.

What’s the Situation in St Helens?

As of mid-2025:

St Helens Council does not yet have a dedicated short-term let licensing scheme, but you must comply with selective landlord licensing if your property is in one of the designated zones (Thatto Heath, Parr, and parts of Four Acre & Bold).

If you switch frequently between long and short lets, it’s worth checking with the council if your setup needs any additional permissions or business rates adjustments.

Tip: If you're renting a flat in a leasehold building, be sure your lease allows short-term lets—many prohibit them.

Warrington Rules

Warrington Borough Council has not rolled out specific short-term let licensing at the time of writing, but the Selective Licensing Scheme applies to long-term rentals in parts of Latchford, Fairfield & Howley, and Bewsey & Whitecross.

If you’re using a property full-time as a holiday let, you may need to register for business rates, especially if it’s available to let for 140 days or more per year.

What About Manchester?

Now this is important:

Manchester City Council is actively monitoring short-term let activity, particularly in city centre neighbourhoods, due to concerns over housing supply, noise, and anti-social behaviour.

While no formal licensing exists for short-term lets (yet), planning permission may be required if the council deems the use of the property has changed from residential to commercial.

Flats in residential blocks are especially under scrutiny—many freeholders don’t allow short-term subletting under leasehold terms.

The government is currently reviewing nationwide short-term let rules, which may soon introduce a mandatory register and planning controls across England.

What Could This Mean for You?

Whether you're letting a spare room or running a full-time holiday rental, here’s what you should consider:

✅ Check local licensing zones — especially for traditional landlord requirements.

✅ Review your lease terms — if your property is leasehold.

✅ Speak to your council’s planning team if your property is used almost exclusively for short stays.

✅ Notify your mortgage provider — some residential mortgages prohibit short-term letting.

✅ Update your insurance to ensure you're covered for guest stays.

Need Help Navigating the Rules?

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed with all the local and national guidance around short-term letting. That’s where we come in.

How V6 Property Management Can Help

At V6 Property Management, we help landlords across St Helens, Warrington, Manchester and Merseyside run successful short-term lets without the stress. Whether you’re just starting out or need someone to take over the day-to-day management, we offer:

📋 Compliance guidance and licence checks

🧼 Full management including cleaning, check-ins and guest support

💻 Listing management on Airbnb and other platforms

🔍 Free property assessments and honest advice

We're a small, family-run agency with a personal touch—and we’ll look after your property as if it were our own.

Message us today to find out how we can support your short-term let journey.