North East · Council licensing
Landlord licensing in Darlington
✓ Hand-verified 20 Aug 2026Beyond mandatory HMO licensing, Darlington does not currently operate a selective or additional licensing scheme. Here's the current position.
Required for any HMO let to 5 or more people forming 2+ households who share facilities.
Darlington sets this fee under section 63(3) of the Housing Act 2004. Its current charge is not yet recorded here.
The council’s own licensing page carries the charge that applies today — confirm it there before you budget.
Not established is not the same as free.
Darlington operates no selective licensing designation under s.80. The council's private sector housing hub and HMO pages present mandatory HMO licensing as the only licensing regime, and darlington.gov.uk carries no selective licensing page, designation or consultation. Distinguished from Stockton-on-Tees, which has a live selective scheme, from County Durham with its 103-area selective scheme, and from Middlesbrough and Hartlepool. Established 20 Aug 2026 from darlington.gov.uk.
No active additional HMO licensing scheme in Darlington. Only mandatory HMO licensing under the Housing Act 2004 and the Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (Prescribed Description) (England) Order 2018 applies. From 1 October 2018 the mandatory licensing scheme covers all multi-occupied properties where there are five or more occupants from two or more separate households who share basic facilities (kitchen, bathroom, or cooking facility). The requirement for three or more storeys was removed in 2018. Smaller HMOs (3 or 4 occupants) do not require an HMO licence in Darlington. Mandatory HMO licences are valid for up to five years (sometimes shorter) and are non-transferable between properties or licence holders. The council operates a fit-and-proper-person test for prospective licence holders. If a landlord fails to meet the required standards or fit-and-proper criteria, the council can issue an Interim Management Order followed if necessary by a Final Management Order.
Common questions
Does Darlington have a selective licensing scheme?
No. Darlington does not currently operate a selective licensing scheme. Mandatory HMO licensing still applies wherever a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households.
Does Darlington have an additional HMO licensing scheme?
No. Darlington does not currently operate an additional HMO licensing scheme. Mandatory HMO licensing still applies wherever a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households.
Do I need an HMO licence in Darlington?
A mandatory HMO licence is required anywhere in England and Wales, including Darlington, where a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households who share basic amenities. Smaller shared houses may also need a licence where an additional licensing scheme applies.
- Free landlord compliance check — five questions, no account
- Tenancy agreement checker — findings cited to the Act and section
All property licensing in North East →
Source: Darlington licensing page →
Every landlord in Darlington also needs
A valid Gas Safety certificate (annual), an EICR (every 5 years), a valid EPC, a protected deposit, smoke & CO alarms, the Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet, and a current How to Rent guide — plus the new Section 8 possession rules since Section 21 was abolished on 1 May 2026.
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