Middlesbrough Selective Licensing Consultation — the Proposed 18-Ward Expansion

Middlesbrough Council ran a public consultation in 2026 proposing to extend selective licensing across 18 of the borough's wards — a dramatic expansion from the current Newport-only designations. If you own rental property anywhere in Middlesbrough, this proposal could reshape your compliance obligations for the next five years.

What the Council Proposed

The consultation, which closed on 12 October 2026, proposed a selective licensing scheme covering 18 wards with a proposed fee of £974 per property. Under the current framework, only properties in the Newport 1 (Phase 2) and Newport 2 designation areas need a selective licence. The proposed expansion would bring nearly every privately rented home in the borough into the licensing regime.

The council cited low housing demand, significant deprivation, and anti-social behaviour across multiple wards as the statutory justification under Part 3 of the Housing Act 2004. Legislative reforms effective from late December 2024 streamlined the designation process, giving local authorities expanded autonomy to execute selective licensing schemes directly where backed by statutory consultation and local evidence — removing the previous requirement for Secretary of State confirmation for schemes covering more than 20% of a council's area.

How This Differs From the Current Schemes

Right now, selective licensing operates only in parts of Newport ward through two designations:

• Newport 2: running from 3 July 2023 to 2 July 2028, with a fee of £878 plus a separate £20 fit and proper person check fee
• Newport 1 (Phase 2): running from 23 July 2024 to 22 July 2029, with fees of £998

Properties outside Newport — in Linthorpe, Acklam, Marton, or anywhere else in the borough — currently need no selective licence at all (though mandatory HMO licensing still applies borough-wide to properties with five or more occupants from two or more households).

An 18-ward scheme would change that entirely, bringing single-family lets and small house shares across the borough under licensing requirements.

What Happens Next

At the time of writing (October 2026), the consultation has closed but the council has not yet announced its decision. If the scheme is approved, the council must publish a formal designation notice, and landlords would have a lead-in period before the scheme formally starts. Selective designations run for a maximum of five years under the Housing Act 2004.

Landlords who already hold a Newport selective licence would not automatically receive credit — a new scheme designation typically requires a fresh application and fee payment, because licences are issued under specific designations and are non-transferable between schemes.

What Landlords Should Do Now

Even before any decision is published, landlords across Middlesbrough can prepare:

• Check your property's current status. If you are in Newport, you already need a selective licence. Use the council's online address checker to confirm.
• Get your documents in order. Current Newport applications require a valid Gas Safety certificate, satisfactory EICR, EPC at grade E or above, and alarm declarations. Check the final designation, fee schedule, conditions, and application guidance before relying on those requirements for a proposed scheme.
• Budget for the fee. The proposed £974 per property is slightly below Newport 1 Phase 2's £998 but above Newport 2's £878. Factor this into your annual costs.

The NRLA tracked the consultation in its October 2026 licensing update, noting the proposed £974 fee and the 18-ward scope. Whether the council proceeds, scales back, or modifies the scheme, the direction of travel is clear: Middlesbrough is moving toward broader private rented sector regulation.

Our Middlesbrough Landlord Licensing guide covers the current Newport and mandatory HMO schemes in full detail — the application process, every document you need, the fee breakdowns, and licence conditions — so you are ready whether the expansion goes ahead or not.

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