North East
HMO licensing in Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough Borough Council requires a mandatory licence for HMOs occupied by 5 or more people from 2 or more households. It also runs selective licensing in designated areas, covering privately rented homes that are not licensable HMOs. The published licence fee starts at £1,168.88.
Mandatory licence
5+ people, 2+ households
National scheme
Additional / selective
Selective
Council-designated schemes
Licence fee
From £1,168.88
Decision time
Not published
Licensing schemes in Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough runs selective landlord licensing in parts of Newport ward: the Newport 2 area (designated March 2023) has licences ceasing on 2 July 2028, and the Newport 1 (phase 2) area (restarted 5 August 2024) has licences ceasing on 22 July 2029. The North Ormesby scheme ended on 13 June 2026 and no renewal is announced.
- In force from
- 3 July 2023
- Scheme ends
- 2 July 2028
Verified 24 September 2026
Licence fees
The published fee for a new HMO licence is £1,168.88. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.
HMO licence (5+ occupants, 2+ households), 'Up to 10' bedrooms band: first payment £720.36 (at application) + second payment £448.52 (once licence approved) = £1,168.88. Other bands: 11-20 bedrooms £909.88 + £566.51 = £1,476.39; 21-30 £1,099.37 + £684.50 = £1,783.87; 31+ £1,288.88 + £802.49 = £2,091.37. Licences normally last 5 years.
Fee source: middlesbrough.gov.uk (checked 2 October 2026). Fees change during the year, so check the council before you apply.
Additional and selective licence fees
Fees for council-designated schemes are set separately from the mandatory HMO fee. Figures are the standard full-rate fee for a new licence, before any discounts.
Selective licence
£878
Ranges from £878 to £998
Selective landlord licence for one privately rented property in the Newport 2 area (part of Newport ward); a separate one-off £20 fit and proper person test fee is charged on top. The Newport 1 (phase 2) area fee is £998.
No discounts or accreditation reductions are listed on the council's page. Fees are non-refundable and licences are non-transferable.
Scheme: From 3 July 2023 to 2 July 2028
Checked 2 October 2026 against middlesbrough.gov.uk
Documents you will need
- Gas safety certificate (CP12) — Within the last 12 months for every gas appliance on the property.
- EICR — Electrical Installation Condition Report, dated within the last five years.
- EPC — Valid Energy Performance Certificate for the property.
- Floor plan with room dimensions — To scale, showing every room and its floor area against the HMO minimums.
- Fire risk assessment — Current assessment of the property's means of escape, alarms and compartmentation.
Sources
Compiled from the council’s own published pages and documents; data reviewed September 2026. Rules and fees change, so always confirm with Middlesbrough Borough Council before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.