Landlord Licensing Across Teesside and the North East — Where Schemes Apply

If you own rental property across Teesside or the wider North East, each council runs its own licensing schemes independently. A licence from Middlesbrough does not cover a property in Stockton, and the rules in Hartlepool differ from those in Redcar & Cleveland. Here is how the regional picture breaks down.

Mandatory HMO Licensing Is Nationwide

One rule is consistent everywhere: mandatory HMO licensing under Part 2 of the Housing Act 2004 applies across every local authority in England. Any property occupied by five or more persons from two or more separate households who share basic amenities needs a mandatory HMO licence, regardless of which Teesside borough it is in.

Fees vary by council. In Middlesbrough, a mandatory HMO licence costs £1,168.88 for a five-year term. Other North East councils set their own fee schedules, often in a similar range but with different payment structures.

Selective Licensing Varies by Council

Selective licensing under Part 3 of the Housing Act 2004 is discretionary — each council decides whether to designate areas and which streets to include. The Teesside picture as of late 2026:

Middlesbrough operates selective licensing in parts of Newport ward only. Two designations are active: Newport 2 (expiring 2 July 2028, fee £878 plus a separate £20 fit and proper person check fee) and Newport 1 Phase 2 (expiring 22 July 2029, fee £998). The North Ormesby scheme expired on 13 June 2026 and has not been renewed. The council consulted on expanding to 18 wards with a proposed £974 fee — a decision is pending.

Stockton-on-Tees has its own selective licensing scheme covering designated areas. The schemes, fees, and street lists are entirely separate from Middlesbrough's, even though the two boroughs share postcode areas.

Redcar & Cleveland and Hartlepool each have their own approaches to private rented sector regulation. Some have selective schemes, others rely on borough-wide mandatory HMO licensing plus enforcement powers.

The Postcode Trap

Teesside postcodes — particularly TS1, TS3, TS4, TS5, TS7, and TS8 — frequently cross municipal borders. A property with a Middlesbrough postal address might actually fall under Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council's jurisdiction, and vice versa.

This matters because licensing is determined by the local authority boundary, not the postcode. You need to verify which council has jurisdiction over your specific property address before applying for any licence. Middlesbrough Council's online address checker or GIS portal confirms whether an address falls within the borough.

Applying to the wrong council wastes time and fees — and council licensing fees across the region are typically non-refundable.

Landlords With Properties in Multiple Boroughs

If you own properties across Teesside, you may need to deal with multiple councils simultaneously:

• A terraced house in Newport, Middlesbrough → selective licence from Middlesbrough Council
• A shared house in central Stockton → check Stockton's selective licensing designations
• A five-bed HMO in Hartlepool → mandatory HMO licence from Hartlepool Borough Council

Each application is separate, each council has its own portal and fee structure, and each licence is non-transferable between properties or councils.

The PRS Database (Coming 2027)

The Renters' Rights Act 2025 established a mandatory national Private Rented Sector Database. Landlords in the North East registration region, including Middlesbrough, enter their registration window on 15 June 2027. This is a national requirement that sits alongside — not instead of — local council licensing schemes. You will need both your local licence and your PRS Database entry.

Our Middlesbrough Landlord Licensing guide covers everything specific to Middlesbrough's schemes, including the Newport designation areas, current fees, and the complete application process.

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