Middlesbrough Selective Licensing Conditions — What Your Licence Requires

Getting the licence is not the finish line — it is the start of a set of conditions that the council actively monitors for the licence term, which ends no later than the designation expiry. Breaching a licence condition is a separate offence from operating without a licence, and it carries the same maximum £40,000 civil penalty.

The Standard Conditions

Every selective licence issued in Middlesbrough's Newport designations comes with a schedule of conditions. The exact wording varies slightly between Newport 1 Phase 2 and Newport 2, but the core obligations are consistent.

Annual gas safety certificate. You must maintain a valid Gas Safety certificate, renew it annually through a Gas Safe registered engineer, and provide the current certificate to the council.

Electrical safety. The property must have a satisfactory EICR at all times. If the existing report expires during the licence term, you must arrange a new inspection and upload the result.

Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. The application requires a declaration that working smoke alarms are fitted on every storey and CO alarms are installed in rooms with fuel-burning appliances, including living rooms.

Energy performance. The licensing application requires an EPC rating of at least Grade E. A lower rating can trigger Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards enforcement by the council's Public Protection team.

Furniture safety. All furniture supplied by the landlord must comply with the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988 (as amended). This includes mattresses, sofas, and any upholstered items.

Rear alley gate keys. Where applicable, the licence holder must provide tenants with keys to rear alleygates.

The Tenant Referencing Condition

This is unique to Middlesbrough and catches landlords who do not read the conditions carefully. Before granting a new tenancy in Newport 1 or Newport 2, the licence holder must obtain a reference for every prospective occupier through Middlesbrough Council's free tenant referencing service.

The process works like this: the landlord signs up for the council's referencing service using the online Landlord Membership Form. Prospective tenants then submit an online application covering three years of housing history and any anti-social behaviour records. The council issues a traffic-light reference: green (clear), amber (minor issues or no prior rental history), or red (serious ASB, active eviction proceedings, or significant arrears).

You are not legally forced to refuse a "red" rated tenant. But you must retain all reference reports for the full duration of the licence and produce them to the council within 14 days of a formal written demand. Using a private commercial referencing agency instead of the council's free service is a breach of the licence condition.

Anti-Social Behaviour Duties

The licence holder must take reasonable steps to prevent and deal with anti-social behaviour by tenants and their visitors. This includes responding to complaints, issuing written warnings, and — where necessary — taking tenancy enforcement action.

The council can require the licence holder to provide evidence of the steps taken. A landlord who ignores repeated ASB complaints and takes no action is in breach of this condition.

What Happens If You Breach a Condition

A breach of licence conditions is a criminal offence under Section 95 of the Housing Act 2004. The council can issue a civil penalty of up to £40,000 or prosecute through the magistrates' court. Repeated or serious breaches can lead to licence revocation, which effectively means you cannot let the property in a designated area.

The practical risk is lower for landlords who stay on top of certificate renewals and respond to council requests promptly. The conditions are not unreasonable — they are the safety standards and management requirements that already apply under general housing law, formalised into an enforceable schedule.

For the full schedule of conditions and a compliance tracker to manage renewals across the licence term, see our Middlesbrough Landlord Licensing Guide.

See more England guides →