Do you need a landlord licence in Newcastle upon Tyne?
Whether you need a licence to let a property in Newcastle upon Tyne depends on the type of property and exactly where it is. Newcastle upon Tyne (North East), like every English council, must license larger HMOs, and it can also designate areas for additional or selective licensing. Here’s what each means, what happens if you get it wrong, and how to check Newcastle upon Tyne’s current rules.
Licensing in Newcastle upon Tyne as at 25 September 2026
Newcastle upon Tyne runs selective licensing (named streets in Cowgate, the West End, Benwell, Lemington, Denton Court and Columbia Grange, from 5 April 2025 until 5 April 2030; Byker Old Town and Greater High Cross, from 1 October 2021 until 30 September 2026) and additional HMO licensing (city-wide, from 5 April 2025 until 5 April 2030), on top of mandatory HMO licensing.
- Selective licensing
2025 designation
Area: Named streets in Cowgate, the West End terraces, Benwell (Howdene Road area), Lemington, Denton Court and Columbia Grange
Scheme dates: From 5 April 2025 until 5 April 2030
Fee: £1,000 (Part A £300 + Part B £700), fees from June 2025
Byker Old Town and Greater High Cross (2021 designation)
Area: Byker Old Town and Greater High Cross
Scheme dates: From 1 October 2021 until 30 September 2026
Fee: £1,000 (Part A £300 + Part B £700)
Byker Old Town and Greater High Cross (2026 re-designation) — comes into force 30 September 2026
Area: Byker Old Town and Greater High Cross
Scheme dates: From 30 September 2026 until 29 September 2031
- Additional HMO licensing
Area: City-wide: HMOs of 3 or more people in 2 or more households, plus section 257 HMOs
Scheme dates: From 5 April 2025 until 5 April 2030
Fee: £1,100 (Part A £350 + Part B £750), fees from June 2025
- Mandatory HMO licensing
- Applies everywhere in Newcastle upon Tyne, as across England, to HMOs let to five or more people forming two or more households.
Byker Old Town and Greater High Cross is re-designated for another five years as the 2021 designation ends: the designation notice gives 30 September 2026 as the changeover, and the council's web page says the new scheme starts on 1 October 2026.
Sources (checked 25 September 2026)
- Newcastle City Council — Property licensing schemes
- Newcastle City Council — Selective licensing
- Newcastle City Council — Additional HMO licensing
- Newcastle City Council — Fees and charges, June 2025 (PDF)
- Newcastle City Council — Additional licensing designation, October 2024 (PDF)
- Newcastle City Council — Selective licensing designation, 22 October 2024 (PDF)
- Newcastle City Council — Public notice of designation, 24 February 2026 (PDF)
Designations and fees change. Confirm your exact address and the live fee with Newcastle upon Tyne before you apply.
The three types of licence
- Mandatory HMO licence. Required across England for larger HMOs — typically a property let to five or more people forming two or more households who share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet. This applies in Newcastle upon Tyne regardless of any local scheme.
- Additional HMO licence. Newcastle upon Tyne can extend HMO licensing to smaller HMOs in designated parts of its area.
- Selective licence. Newcastle upon Tyne can require a licence for all privately rented homes — including ordinary single-family lets — within a designated area. Larger schemes need government approval, and they’re used in areas with specific housing or anti-social-behaviour concerns.
The penalties for renting unlicensed in Newcastle upon Tyne
How to check Newcastle upon Tyne's current schemes
Never miss a licensing deadline
LandlordReady tracks the licences and certificates each of your properties needs and warns you before they lapse — so a renewal or a new Newcastle upon Tyne scheme doesn’t catch you out.
Start with LandlordReady →Frequently asked questions
Do I need a licence to rent out a property in Newcastle upon Tyne?
As at 25 September 2026, Newcastle upon Tyne runs selective licensing (named streets in Cowgate, the West End, Benwell, Lemington, Denton Court and Columbia Grange, from 5 April 2025 until 5 April 2030; Byker Old Town and Greater High Cross, from 1 October 2021 until 30 September 2026) and additional HMO licensing (city-wide, from 5 April 2025 until 5 April 2030), on top of mandatory HMO licensing. If your property is in a selective licensing area, you need a licence for any privately rented home there — including an ordinary single let — unless it is exempt or licensed as an HMO. If you let an HMO that doesn't need a mandatory licence and falls within additional licensing (city-wide), it needs an additional HMO licence. A larger HMO (five or more people, two or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in Newcastle upon Tyne. A new designation — Byker Old Town and Greater High Cross (2026 re-designation) — comes into force on 30 September 2026. Check your exact address on Newcastle upon Tyne's licensing page before you let.
How much does a landlord licence cost in Newcastle upon Tyne?
Newcastle upon Tyne's published fees as at 25 September 2026: Selective licence (2025 designation): £1,000 (Part A £300 + Part B £700), fees from June 2025. Selective licence (Byker Old Town and Greater High Cross (2021 designation)): £1,000 (Part A £300 + Part B £700). Additional HMO licence: £1,100 (Part A £350 + Part B £750), fees from June 2025. Fees are set by the council and can change, so confirm the current figure before you apply.
What happens if I rent without a required licence in Newcastle upon Tyne?
Renting an unlicensed property that needs a licence is a criminal offence. You can face an unlimited fine or a civil penalty of up to £40,000, and a rent repayment order of up to 24 months' rent (the limits for offences on or after 1 May 2026).
Check landlord licensing in other areas.