Stockton-on-Tees Council Is Moving To Data-Led Enforcement
Property Licensing Guide for Stockton-on-Tees
Stockton-on-Tees currently operates selective licensing in 4 wards; mandatory HMO licensing applies everywhere. Last checked: 20 October 2026.
This free guide will provide you with the key details regarding what licensing requirements are necessary in this area and how to apply for a licence.
New to this? Read our overview: What is selective licensing?
Stockton-on-Tees is in the North East registration window for the PRS database, which opens on 15 June 2027: see how the North East registration window affects letting agents.
Stockton-on-Tees Property Licensing Schemes
To check a property, look up its street in the council’s selective licensing area maps, or use Kamma’s free property licence checker. The scheme covers named streets in Central Stockton, North Thornaby and Newtown, not whole wards.
Is manual compliance causing a headache for your agency? At Kamma, we specialise in automating licensing compliance for agents across the UK. If you need any assistance in getting your property portfolio compliant, find out how we can help letting agents here.
Not sure whether a Stockton-on-Tees property needs a licence? Kamma's free checker covers selective, additional and HMO schemes.
Check a Stockton-on-Tees property →What are the licensing requirements for Stockton-on-Tees?
Mandatory licensing in Stockton-on-Tees
Mandatory HMO licensing applies across Stockton-on-Tees (and all of England) to larger HMOs. These are properties occupied by five or more people forming more than one household, including:
- Shared houses and flats occupied by students and young professionals.
- Properties converted into bedsits with some shared facilities.
- Properties converted into a mix of self-contained and non-self-contained accommodation.
Do I need an additional property licence in Stockton-on-Tees?
Additional licensing requires smaller HMOs in a designated area to be licensed. That means a privately rented property with three or more people forming more than one household.
Stockton-on-Tees does not currently operate an additional HMO licensing scheme; larger HMOs are covered by the national mandatory HMO scheme.
Do I need a selective licence in Stockton-on-Tees?
Selective licensing requires almost all privately rented properties in a designated area to be licensed, regardless of the number of occupants.
Stockton-on-Tees operates selective licensing. The current designation is set out below.
Selective licensing: 1 November 2024 to 31 October 2029, covering Mandale & Victoria, Newtown, Ropner and Stockton Town Centre.
Mandatory HMO licensing: in force since 2006 for HMOs of five or more people forming more than one household.
How do I apply for a licence?
You can apply for a licence via Stockton-on-Tees Council’s website here. Or let Kamma’s expert team process the application for you.
How much does a licence cost?
Licence fees
| Licence | Fee |
|---|---|
| Selective licence | £653 (New application (standard, per property)) |
| Mandatory HMO licence | £250 per unit of accommodation. Worked total £1,250, on this basis: 5 units × £250 per unit of accommodation |
Fees as published by the council, verified 20 July 2026; subject to change. See the council’s fee page for full schedules, payment stages and discounts.
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Stockton-on-Tees Property Licensing FAQs
What licensing schemes does Stockton-on-Tees operate?
Stockton-on-Tees operates selective licensing (1 November 2024 to 31 October 2029), alongside the national mandatory HMO scheme. See the scheme details above.
Do all properties in Stockton-on-Tees need a licence?
Not in Stockton-on-Tees. Selective licensing has applied since 1 November 2024 to private rented homes in parts of Mandale & Victoria, Newtown, Ropner and Stockton Town Centre wards.
Elsewhere in the borough, a property needs a licence only if it is an HMO for five or more people forming more than one household.
What if my property doesn't have a licence?
Operating a licensable property in Stockton-on-Tees without a licence can bring a civil penalty of up to £40,000 per property for offences on or after 1 May 2026.
The landlord also risks a rent repayment order of up to 24 months’ rent. A letting agent who manages the property or collects the rent commits the offence too and can be fined separately.
Can letting agents apply on behalf of landlords?
Yes. Letting agents can apply for property licences on behalf of landlords in Stockton-on-Tees, and many manage the full process.
An agent who manages or collects rent for a licensable property can be penalised, so checking licence status first matters.
How do I apply for a Stockton-on-Tees property licence?
Selective licence applications in Stockton-on-Tees go through the council’s website, with fees on its selective licensing fees page. HMO licences are applied for through the council’s HMO licence page. You can also use a managed service such as Kamma.
Why did Stockton-on-Tees introduce selective licensing?
Stockton-on-Tees Council introduced selective licensing on 1 November 2024 for Central Stockton, North Thornaby and Newtown. Its May 2024 Cabinet report cited some poorly managed rented homes, and areas of low housing demand or higher-than-average crime and anti-social behaviour.
Does Stockton-on-Tees have additional HMO licensing?
No. Stockton-on-Tees does not operate an additional HMO licensing scheme as of 20 October 2026.
Only HMOs with five or more people forming more than one household need a mandatory licence in Stockton-on-Tees.
What are the conditions to obtain an HMO licence in Stockton-on-Tees?
Stockton-on-Tees Council sets conditions on each HMO licence. They are published on the council’s HMO conditions page.
About Stockton-on-Tees
Stockton-on-Tees is a unitary authority on the River Tees in the North East. The council’s May 2024 Cabinet report gave private renting as 50% of homes in Central Stockton, 41% in North Thornaby and 45% in Newtown, against 17% across the borough. It cited some poorly managed rented homes, and areas of low housing demand or higher-than-average crime and anti-social behaviour, as its reasons for designating those three areas.
Licensing Enforcement in Stockton-on-Tees
Stockton-on-Tees Council enforces selective licensing in Central Stockton, North Thornaby and Newtown. The council states that civil penalties can be served on all owners and managing agents involved in renting a property there. Letting a property without the required licence risks prosecution or a civil penalty of up to £40,000 per property for offences on or after 1 May 2026. The landlord can also face a rent repayment order of up to 24 months’ rent. Where a letting agent manages the property or collects the rent, the agent commits the offence too and can be fined in its own right.
