PRSCheck

Northumberland: landlord licensing

Northumberland operates discretionary property licensing. Here is what is in force, what is coming, and how to check whether your property is affected.

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Active selective licensing

Selective licensing applies to ordinary private rented homes (not just HMOs) within a designated area.

Selective licensing

active

Croft Ward area of Blyth (bounded by Hodgsons Road, Waterloo Road/Bridge Street, Regent Street, Renwick Road). The only selective area in Northumberland.

Dates
14 Oct 2024 – 13 Oct 2029
Approx. fee
£650 (£495 accredited)
Wards / areas
Croft
Designated streets
47
Show the 47 designated streets

Transcribed from the council's published designation. Where only part of a street is covered, the house numbers are shown exactly as the council writes them.

  • Arcot Terrace
  • Argyle Street
  • Arthur Street
  • Athlone Court
  • Balfour Street
  • Beaumont Street
  • Bowes Court
  • Bowes Street
  • Boyne Court
  • Bridge Street
  • Church Street
  • Commercial Road
  • Delaval Terrace
  • Disraeli Street
  • Durban Street
  • Edward Street
  • Gladstone Street
  • Goschen Street
  • Grieve Street
  • Hambledon Street
  • Havelock Street
  • High Street
  • Hodgsons Road
  • Keel Row
  • Keelmans Terrace
  • Kerry Close
  • King Street
  • Laburnum Avenue
  • Lilac Avenue
  • Maddison Street
  • Market Street
  • Merton Square
  • Northumberland Court
  • Parsons Street
  • Portland Street
  • Regent Street
  • Salisbury Street
  • Seaforth Street
  • Silver Birch Close
  • Simpson Street
  • Summers Street
  • Thompson Street
  • Thoroton Street
  • Wanley Street
  • Waterloo Road
  • West Salisbury Street
  • Wright Street

Official local authority licensing designation

Mandatory HMO licensing (applies everywhere)

Regardless of local schemes, any property in Northumberland let to 5 or more people forming 2 or more households, who share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet, needs a mandatory HMO licence under the Housing Act 2004. Licences last up to 5 years and the fee is set by the council.

Penalties for operating unlicensed

  • Civil penalty of up to £40,000 per offence (raised from £30,000 on 1 May 2026).
  • Rent Repayment Order of up to 24 months' rent, claimable by the tenant.
  • Unlimited fine on criminal prosecution, plus possible banning order.
  • Once the national PRS Database is live, unregistered landlords can be blocked from regaining possession.

Notes

Northumberland does not operate an additional (HMO) licensing scheme. The fee shown is indicative; confirm the current figure with the council before applying.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a landlord licence in Northumberland?

Northumberland operates 1 selective licensing scheme(s). Whether your specific property needs a licence depends on its exact location and how it is let. Separately, mandatory HMO licensing still applies, to any property let to 5 or more people forming 2 or more households.

What is the penalty for an unlicensed property in Northumberland?

Operating a licensable property without a licence can lead to a civil penalty of up to £40,000 per offence, a Rent Repayment Order of up to 24 months' rent, an unlimited fine on prosecution, and a banning order for serious or repeat offenders.

Can a tenant in Northumberland claim rent back from an unlicensed landlord?

Yes. Letting a property that required a licence, without one, is an offence under section 72(1) or section 95(1) of the Housing Act 2004, and a tenant can apply to the First-tier Tribunal for a Rent Repayment Order of up to 24 months' rent for offences committed on or after 1 May 2026. No conviction is needed first, but the tribunal must be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the offence was committed, and the application must be made within two years of it. Tribunals award a percentage of the rent rather than the maximum, following the method in Acheampong v Roman [2022] UKUT 239 (LC).

Does your property need a licence?

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Renting in Northumberland?

If your home needed a licence and did not have one, you may be able to claim rent back

A Rent Repayment Order can be up to 24 months' rent, you apply to the tribunal yourself, and your landlord does not need to have been prosecuted. The deadline is two years from the offence.

Check my home freeHow Rent Repayment Orders work

🏛️ Government-backed data: built from official local authority licensing designations, ONS council boundaries and UK housing legislation (Housing Act 2004), verified as of July 2026. PRSCheck is an information service, not legal advice. Many schemes are designated at street or part-ward level; the paid report confirms the exact boundary and official source for your address. Browse all councils.