How to Apply for a Selective Licence in Gateshead: Step-by-Step Portal Guide

Gateshead processes all property licence applications through the MetaStreet portal — an online system where you create an account, enter property details, upload documents and pay fees. There is no walk-in option, and requesting a paper form costs an extra £50.

Here is the process from start to finish.

Before You Start: Gather Your Documents

Do not create your portal account until everything is ready to upload. A £25 charge applies when an application is returned for missing information or requires repeated council follow-up. An incomplete application is not "duly made" and does not provide the statutory protection available for a duly made, effective application.

You need:

• CP12 gas safety certificate (current, from a Gas Safe registered engineer)
• EICR (satisfactory, within 5-year validity)
• EPC (minimum E rating, within 10-year validity)
• Written tenancy agreement (current version)
• Smoke and CO alarm declarations
• Floor plans (HMO applications only — room dimensions, amenity locations, escape routes)

Scan or photograph each document clearly. The portal accepts standard file formats — PDF, JPEG, PNG.

Step 1: Create a My Gateshead Account

Go to gateshead.metastreet.co.uk and register for a "My Gateshead Account." You need a valid email address. Each property requires a separate application, but you can manage multiple applications from one account.

Step 2: Start the Application

Select the type of licence — selective, additional HMO, or mandatory HMO. Getting this wrong can lead to refusal, in which case Part A is retained. Gateshead provides full refunds for applications submitted in error, such as duplicates or properties outside the scheme; if you selected the wrong category, contact the council before paying for another application.

If you are unsure which licence applies, check the occupancy structure first: single household or couple = selective; 3–4 occupants from 2+ households = additional HMO; 5+ from 2+ households = mandatory HMO.

Step 3: Enter Property Details

The portal asks for the property address, number of occupants, number of households, room details, and the proposed licence holder. The licence holder must be the person or entity in operational control — typically the freeholder, leaseholder, or an accredited managing agent.

The portal has a draft-save feature, so you can pause and return later. But the application is not "duly made" until everything is complete.

Step 4: Upload Documents

Attach each compliance document to the relevant section. Double-check dates: an expired CP12 or an unsatisfactory EICR will be flagged, and you will be asked to resubmit. A £25 charge applies when an application is returned for missing information or requires repeated council follow-up.

Step 5: Complete Fit-and-Proper Declarations

You must declare any unspent criminal convictions, prior housing enforcement actions, and discrimination findings for yourself and any business associates involved in managing the property. These are statutory declarations — false information is an offence.

Step 6: Pay Part A

Part A covers processing — £510 for selective, £585.80 for additional HMO, £659.80 for mandatory HMO (up to 14 beds). Payment is online by card. The council retains Part A if it refuses or you withdraw the application; it issues a full refund for applications submitted in error, such as duplicates or properties outside the scheme.

Once Part A is paid and all required documents and declarations are complete, the application is "duly made." An effective duly made application can provide a defence to the unlicensed-letting offence, but it does not retrospectively excuse the period before you applied.

Step 7: Wait for the Decision

The council reviews your documents, runs the fit-and-proper assessment, and decides whether to grant the licence. Processing times vary, but expect several weeks to months depending on application volume.

Step 8: Pay Part B and Receive the Licence

When the council approves the licence, you receive a Part B invoice — £340 for selective, £390.50 for additional HMO. Discounts (accredited landlord, multi-property) come off this amount. The licence is issued once Part B is paid in full.

Common Mistakes That Cost Money

• Applying for the wrong licence type (selective instead of additional HMO)
• Uploading an expired gas safety certificate
• Forgetting floor plans on an HMO application
• Not completing the fit-and-proper declaration for a managing agent

These issues can delay or lead to refusal. The £25 charge applies when an application is returned for missing information or requires repeated council follow-up; ask the council how it will treat an application in the wrong category before paying a second Part A fee.

The Gateshead Landlord Licensing Guide includes a printable pre-portal audit, the scheme decision flowchart, and a fee calculator that accounts for every discount and surcharge scenario.

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