Property Licensing Check
£29 · Live now
A property-specific PDF licensing report with a verification email template, current scheme fees, and a £30,000 risk context block — delivered to your inbox automatically.
Continue to secure paymentEnhanced research coverage
Council websiteLandlord licensing in Hartlepool Borough Council
North East
This enhanced research coverage page currently does not show an active selective or additional licensing scheme for Hartlepool Borough Council, but proposed or consultation-stage schemes are noted and should still be checked with the council. Mandatory HMO licensing can still apply.
Licensing scorecard
Enhanced coverageNo active local scheme currently shown in our data, but proposed or consultation-stage schemes may still need checking.
Selective licensing
Proposed scheme notedAdditional HMO licensing
No active additional scheme shownMandatory HMO licensing
Applies across England- Source confidence
- High
- Boundary confidence
- No active local scheme boundary to assess
- Public register
- Download only (PDF or file) (3/5)
- Last reviewed
- 27 March 2026
- Next review due
- Not scheduled
- Sources recorded
- 13
Our current data is a research summary, not a legal record. This should be verified with the council before letting, purchasing, refinancing, or taking legal action. Mandatory HMO licensing may still apply even where no local additional or selective scheme is recorded.
Recommended next step
A change may be coming - follow this council
Our current data does not show an active local scheme here, but proposed or consultation-stage activity has been identified. The position could change, so it is worth tracking updates and verifying with the council before you act.
What still adds uncertainty
- Proposed or consultation-stage schemes are noted and could change the position before or after they start.
- Mandatory HMO licensing can apply based on occupancy and households, which cannot be confirmed from a postcode alone.
Buying, refinancing, or completing conveyancing? A due diligence report pulls the licensing position together with the official routes so the risk is documented before you commit. This is an information service and is not legal advice.
Verify with the council
Our current data is based on publicly available information. Always verify the latest licensing position, scheme boundaries, fees, and exemptions with Hartlepool Borough Council.
Council updates
Get updates for Hartlepool Borough Council
We will email you if Hartlepool Borough Council introduces, renews, or changes a licensing scheme. Free, occasional updates only. Always verify final requirements on the council website.
Free, occasional licensing updates only. You can unsubscribe at any time.
If you need more than the council page
This page may already answer a lot of the question. Use the paid products only if you want a quicker written summary, a more risk-focused view, or ongoing monitoring.
Licensing Due Diligence Report
£79 · Live now
A more tailored, more decision-oriented, and more risk-focused review for higher-stakes property decisions.
Request the reportAlerts and monitoring
£12.99/month · Coming soon
A lighter monitoring tier for selected councils or areas, aimed at landlords and smaller investors who want ongoing updates.
See alerts and monitoringThese are information services, not legal advice. Final reliance should still be checked against council sources.
Check a postcode in Hartlepool Borough Council
Enter a postcode to see whether it appears to fall within a licensing scheme area, then verify the result with the council.
Proposed, consultation or former scheme records
No active local scheme is currently shown in our data, but these records are useful prompts to check the latest council position.
Selective LicensingProposed
Proposed Landlord Licensing Scheme (Council Plan 2030)
Not yet defined. The Council Plan 2030 (agreed April 2025) includes the introduction of a Landlord Licensing Scheme as a key commitment under its Place priorities, aimed at tackling poor housing conditions and anti-social behaviour in the private rented sector.
- Coverage
- Borough-wide
Research notes
The Council Plan 2030, agreed by the Finance and Policy Committee on 7 April 2025, lists the introduction of a Landlord Licensing Scheme as a priority commitment. No consultation has been launched, no designated areas have been defined, and no fees or dates have been published as of March 2026. The council is separately pursuing an Article 4 Direction to control HMO conversions through the planning system. The council has also called on central government to introduce property speculation levies, buy-to-let concentration caps, and enhanced compulsory purchase powers. Property types covered: Not yet defined.
Our current data shows this scheme based on public information. Always verify the latest fees, dates, and boundary wording on the official council page.
Selective LicensingExpired
Selective Licensing Designation No. 2 (2015)
Thirteen streets in the inner area of Hartlepool, across four town wards: Burn Valley, Foggy Furze, Victoria, and Headland & Harbour. The scheme covered approximately 544 privately rented properties. The area was designated due to concerns about low housing demand, significant anti-social behaviour, and the need to improve property management standards in the private rented sector.
- Fee guide
- Historical fee data not confirmed. Non-compliance with the scheme was an offence liable to a fine not exceeding £20,000 on summary conviction; breach of licence conditions was liable to a fine not exceeding £5,000.
- Scheme period
- 6 July 2015 - 5 July 2020
- Typical licence term
- 5 years
- Coverage
- See council website for boundaries
Research notes
This was the second selective licensing scheme operated by Hartlepool Borough Council. The first scheme covered approximately 600 properties across six areas in the central town, including streets such as Brougham Terrace, Rodney Street, Errol Street, and Furness Street. The Council had also proposed extending selective licensing into a further nine areas, but no formal designation for those areas has been confirmed in available records. A feasibility study was commissioned in 2019 for the Oxford Street neighbourhood. An assessment of the effectiveness of the second scheme was underway as it neared expiry. Property types covered: All privately rented residential properties in the 13 designated streets. If a property was licensed under this selective licensing scheme and subsequently came under the extended HMO definition, it was passported into mandatory HMO licensing upon expiry. Exemptions or exclusions: Properties requiring mandatory HMO licensing (5+ occupants, 2+ households). Owner-occupied properties.
Our current data shows this scheme based on public information. Always verify the latest fees, dates, and boundary wording on the official council page.
Public licensing register
Councils must keep a public register of licensed properties. How easy it is to use varies a lot between councils.
- Public register found
- Yes
- Search method
- Download a file (PDF or spreadsheet)
- Register usability
- Download only (PDF or file) (3/5)
Register appears to cover
HMO
Appears to cover HMO licences - always confirm scope on the register itself.
Register notes
Under Section 232 of the Housing Act 2004, Hartlepool Borough Council is required to maintain a public register of licensed HMOs. The full register can be viewed by appointment only at the Civic Centre, Victoria Road, Hartlepool, TS24 8AY. A PDF version (with property addresses, licence issue dates, and expiry dates, but without personal data such as landlord names and addresses) is available on request by email. The council does not publish the register online as an open dataset, in line with ICO guidance on personal data. FOI requests for the register are exempt under the Housing Act 2004 access provisions. There is no separate publicly accessible selective licensing register, as no selective licensing scheme is currently active.
The council register and official source pages should be treated as the source of truth. Our summary is a guide to help you find and use them, not a substitute for the live register. How public registers work.
Research summary
These public research signals help show how recently this page was reviewed and what still needs checking before you rely on it.
Last reviewed
27 March 2026
Research confidence
High (77/100)
Sources checked
13
Research notes
The current status (no active selective licensing, no additional licensing, mandatory HMO licensing active) is confirmed by multiple independent sources including LandlordLaw.co.uk (updated October 2024), Legislate.tech, and the council's own website structure. HMO fee schedule was confirmed directly from the council's Public Protection Division fees and charges page. The history of the 2015-2020 selective licensing designation (Designation No. 2) is documented by a Celtic Way public notice and multiple news sources. The proposed future landlord licensing scheme is evidenced by the Council Plan 2030 document. The ODR No. 24-302 document on the council website (referencing a designated area map) could not be read as it is a scanned image PDF - this may relate to a new selective licensing designation, but no readable text was available to confirm this, and no corroborating sources found a current active scheme.
Council contact details
- Phone
- 01429 523705
Important to verify
- Content of ODR No. 24-302 (designated area map PDF) - may indicate a new selective licensing scheme
- Selective licensing fee for the expired 2015-2020 scheme
- Exact streets covered by the first (pre-2015) selective licensing scheme
- Any recent council change that could affect the current public summary.
Supporting sources
- https://www.hartlepool.gov.uk/licences-permits/public-protection-division-fees-charges/19
- https://www.hartlepool.gov.uk/planning-policy/house-multiple-occupation-hmo-article-4-consultation
- https://www.hartlepool.gov.uk/news/article/115/controlling-houses-of-multiple-occupation-consultation-launched
- https://www.hartlepool.gov.uk/news/article/123/council-calls-for-end-to-profiteering-in-private-rental-market
- https://www.hartlepool.gov.uk/council-democracy/council-plan-2030/4
- https://landlordlaw.co.uk/la_directory/hartlepool-borough-council/
Mandatory HMO licensing
All councils in England must operate mandatory HMO licensing. This applies to properties with 5 or more occupants forming 2 or more separate households, regardless of location. If your property meets these criteria, you must apply for a mandatory HMO licence from Hartlepool Borough Council.
Not sure whether the rules apply? Use the HMO licence checker to check whether a property may need an HMO licence, then verify the current position with Hartlepool Borough Council.
Council-specific HMO detail we currently show
Mandatory licensing applies to all HMOs occupied by five or more people who form more than one household and share at least one bathroom, kitchen and/or toilet, or lack one of these amenities. Applies borough-wide across all of Hartlepool. Extended to all HMOs (not just 3-storey+) from 1 October 2018.
- HMO fee guide
- £755
- Fee notes
- Fees are tiered by number of lettings. For a 5-letting property: £755 if paid in full at application (or £785 split across two payments). For 6-10 lettings: £855 full payment (£885 split). For 11-15 lettings: £960 full payment (£990 split). For 16-20 lettings: £1,070 full payment (£1,100 split). For 21-30 lettings: £1,170 full payment (£1,200 split). For 31-35 lettings: £1,280 full payment (£1,310 split). For properties with more than 35 lettings, an additional £100 per additional letting applies. Fees are paid in two parts: Part 1 at application, Part 2 on licence approval. A discount is available for paying the full fee upfront. Discount available for paying the full fee at the application stage rather than in two parts.
- Typical licence term
- 5 years
- Start date shown
- 1 January 2006
The council aims to process complete applications within 8 weeks. The council undertakes 'fit and proper person' checks on applicants, evaluating criminal history (violence, drugs, fraud), housing law breaches, unlawful discrimination, and past management issues. Properties must comply with the Houses in Multiple Occupation (Management) Regulations 2006. For offences committed on or after 1 May 2026, GOV.UK guidance refers to civil penalties of up to £40,000 for relevant offences, with different treatment for breaches and for offences committed before that date. Earlier cases may still be assessed under previous rules. Members of the Neighbourhood Services Committee noted in 2025 that there are significant numbers of HMOs in parts of Hartlepool and numerous incidents where HMOs have caused difficulties for residents. An Article 4 Direction consultation was launched in September 2025 (responses due January 2026) to require planning permission for all new conversions of dwellings into small HMOs (3-6 residents), with a potential implementation date of 1 December 2026. Property types covered: Properties rented by five or more people from more than one household who share facilities such as a kitchen, bathroom, or toilet. Includes converted flats with 5+ occupants from multiple households sharing amenities. Exemptions or exclusions: HMOs with fewer than five occupants or a single household. Properties where occupants do not share facilities. Owner-occupied properties. Temporary exemption notices (lasting up to 3 months with possible extension) are available where the owner plans to reduce occupancy below five or cease renting.
Other compliance requirements
In addition to licensing, all private landlords in England must comply with these requirements:
- Gas Safety Certificate (CP12) - renewed annually
- EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) - every 5 years
- EPC rating of E or above - required before letting
- Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms - checked at start of tenancy
- Deposit protection - within 30 days of receiving deposit
- Right to Rent checks - before tenancy starts
Common questions about licensing in Hartlepool Borough Council
- Do I need a landlord licence in Hartlepool Borough Council?
- Our current data does not show an active selective or additional licensing scheme in Hartlepool Borough Council, but proposed or consultation-stage schemes are noted and should still be checked. Mandatory HMO licensing still applies across England to properties with 5 or more occupiers forming 2 or more households. Always verify with the council as schemes can change.
- How much does a property licence cost in Hartlepool Borough Council?
- Based on our current data, licence fees in Hartlepool Borough Council are approximately: Mandatory HMO Licensing: £755; Selective Licensing Designation No. 2 (2015): Historical fee data not confirmed. Non-compliance with the scheme was an offence liable to a fine not exceeding £20,000 on summary conviction; breach of licence conditions was liable to a fine not exceeding £5,000. Fees can vary and may include discounts for early applications. Always check the latest fees on the council website before applying.
- Does mandatory HMO licensing apply in Hartlepool Borough Council?
- Yes. Mandatory HMO licensing applies across all of England, including Hartlepool Borough Council. It covers properties with 5 or more occupiers forming 2 or more separate households. You must apply to Hartlepool Borough Council for a mandatory HMO licence if your property meets these criteria.
- What happens if I rent without a licence in Hartlepool Borough Council?
- Operating a licensable property without the correct licence can lead to enforcement action. For offences committed on or after 1 May 2026, GOV.UK guidance refers to civil penalties of up to £40,000 for relevant offences, with different treatment for breaches and for offences committed before that date. Earlier cases may still be assessed under previous rules. Tenants or local authorities may be able to apply for a rent repayment order. GOV.UK guidance now refers to up to two years' rent for relevant offences, but eligibility, timing and the final amount depend on the facts and tribunal decision. From 1 May 2026, Section 21 notices can no longer be used for existing or new private tenancies in England. Transitional rules may still matter for notices served before that date.
Still unsure? Choose the next step that fits you
Use these routes to move from the Hartlepool Borough Council summary into the most relevant next action for your property, role, or research task.
Landlord with a standard let→
Start with a postcode if you want a property-specific route before relying on the council summary alone.
Shared occupancy or possible HMO→
Use the HMO checker if occupier numbers, households, or room-sharing could change the answer.
Check if a property has an HMO licence→
Use this if you need to check whether a property holds an HMO licence, or find the council's public HMO register.
Investor, buyer, or conveyancer→
Use the due diligence guide if this council page is part of a purchase, refinance, or pre-letting review.
Letting agent or portfolio manager→
Preview the monitoring route if you need ongoing watchlists and recurring scheme-change visibility.
Tenant checking landlord compliance→
Use the tenant guide if you rent a property and want to check whether your landlord holds the right licence.
Important disclaimer
This tool provides general information about landlord licensing schemes in England. Results are based on publicly available data and may not reflect recent changes. This is not legal advice. Always verify licensing requirements directly with your local council before making decisions.