North East · Council licensing
Landlord licensing in Stockton-on-Tees
✓ Hand-verified 19 Aug 2026Stockton-on-Tees operates discretionary property licensing. Letting an unlicensed property where a scheme applies risks a civil penalty of up to £30,000 and a rent repayment order — check whether your property is covered below.
Required for any HMO let to 5 or more people forming 2+ households who share facilities.
Charged for each letting in the property.
| Per UNIT | £250 |
| Each UNIT OF ACCOMMODATION | £250 |
- Discounted to £200 per unit for members of the council Landlord Accreditation Scheme
Stockton-on-Tees — stockton.gov.uk, read 19 Aug 2026
Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council operates a selective licensing scheme covering Central Stockton, North Thornaby and Newtown. Cabinet approved it on 16 May 2024 and it came into force on 1 November 2024, running for five years. Every privately rented property inside a designated area needs its own licence, so a landlord with several properties in the areas needs one for each. The council publishes street-level maps for each of the three areas, so check the specific address rather than the ward name. Letting a licensable property without a licence is a criminal offence carrying an unlimited fine on prosecution, or a civil penalty of up to £30,000 as an alternative, and the same penalties apply per breach of a licence condition. A tenant may also seek a rent repayment order of up to twelve months.
Areas: Central Stockton, North Thornaby and Newtown. Approved by Cabinet 16 May 2024
Paid in two parts — one on application, the balance before the licence is issued.
| Each property | £178 |
| Each property | £50 |
| Each property | £75 |
- Late application: £278 plus £95 per year for five years, giving £753
Stockton-on-Tees — stockton.gov.uk, read 19 Aug 2026
Scheme runs until: 31 October 2029
No additional licensing scheme is currently in force.
Common questions
Does Stockton-on-Tees have a selective licensing scheme?
Yes. Stockton-on-Tees operates a selective licensing scheme. Letting a property covered by it without a licence risks a civil penalty of up to £30,000, a rent repayment order of up to twelve months' rent, and the loss of the right to serve a section 21 notice.
Does Stockton-on-Tees have an additional HMO licensing scheme?
No. Stockton-on-Tees 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 Stockton-on-Tees?
A mandatory HMO licence is required anywhere in England and Wales, including Stockton-on-Tees, 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
Selective licensing in Stockton-on-Tees: areas, dates and fees →
All property licensing in North East →
Source: Stockton-on-Tees licensing page →
Every landlord in Stockton-on-Tees 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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