North East
We currently show scheme records, official links, and supporting research for this council.
Shown as active
No local scheme shown
Shown as active
This page includes the scheme records we currently hold, but council policies and boundaries can change. Treat it as a researched starting point and verify the latest position on the official council pages before acting.
Based on publicly available information, we show the licensing status we currently hold for Northumberland, highlight mandatory HMO rules, and link you to official council sources for verification where we currently have them.
Confirm the current scheme boundary, licence fee, exemptions, application route, and any recent policy changes on the council website before making decisions.
Our current data is based on publicly available information. Always verify the latest licensing position, scheme boundaries, fees, and exemptions with Northumberland.
We research council licensing information from public sources and present it as general guidance. We do not replace the council's own licensing pages or legal advice.
Council updates
We will email you if Northumberland 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.
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.
Property Licensing Check
Live now
A concise written review for one property, postcode, or council situation based on current public council-source information.
Best for: Best for landlords, agents, and buyers who want written clarity quickly on one case.
Delivery: Concise report by email, usually within 2 working days
Licensing Due Diligence Report
Coming soon
A more tailored, more decision-oriented, and more risk-focused review for higher-stakes property decisions.
Best for: Best for buyers, investors, agents, landlords refinancing, and conveyancers handling material decisions.
Delivery: Analyst-reviewed report with stronger risk framing
Alerts and monitoring
Coming soon
A lighter monitoring tier for selected councils or areas, aimed at landlords and smaller investors who want ongoing updates.
Best for: Best for landlords and smaller investors who want ongoing updates without building their own tracking process.
Delivery: Monthly monitoring and change alerts
These options are designed to save research time, improve clarity, and support decision-making. Final reliance should still be tied back to the relevant council and, where necessary, professional advice.
Enter a postcode to see whether it appears to fall within a licensing scheme area, then verify the result with the council.
Mandatory HMO licensing applies throughout England under the Housing Act 2004, covering the entire administrative area of Northumberland. Required for all HMOs occupied by five or more people living as two or more separate households who share facilities (kitchen, bathroom, toilet). Extended from 1 October 2018 to cover all HMOs regardless of number of storeys (previously required 3+ storeys).
The HMO public register is not available online. To obtain a copy, contact the Public Health Protection Unit: telephone 01670 623870 (available 8:30am-5pm Monday-Thursday, 8:30am-4:30pm Friday); email public.protection@northumberland.gov.uk. Required application documentation includes: completed HMO application form, HMO application guidance, 'fit and proper person' assessment form, and supporting documentation. A fit and proper person check is conducted using information from Northumbria Police and the Council Housing Benefit Department. Licence holders failing to comply with conditions may be issued a financial penalty notice of up to £30,000, prosecuted in court, have their licence reduced to one year, or have their licence revoked. Note: if a late application is made, the unlicensed period may be deducted from the maximum five-year licence period to ensure equity with timely applicants. Property types covered: All HMOs with five or more occupants from two or more households sharing basic amenities. Includes shared houses and flats occupied by students and young professionals, properties converted into bedsits with some shared facilities, and properties converted into a mix of self-contained and non-self-contained accommodation.. Exemptions or exclusions: HMOs with fewer than 5 occupants (though management standards still apply). Owner-occupied properties. Properties managed by public bodies. Properties regulated under other statutory frameworks..
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 licensing of all private rented properties in the Croft Ward area of Blyth. The designated area is bounded by Hodgsons Road (B1329) to the north, Waterloo Road/Bridge Street (B1328) to the south, Regent Street (B1329) to the east, and Renwick Road (A193) to the west. The Croft Ward is in the top 1% for deprivation levels across England. Approximately 1,000 properties are in the Croft Ward of which around 550 are managed by private landlords. The scheme was designated on grounds of significant and persistent problems including anti-social behaviour, poor property conditions, high levels of deprivation, and low healthy life expectancy.
The scheme was approved by Northumberland County Council Cabinet on 9 July 2024, following an 11-week public consultation which ran from 14 August 2023. The consultation was the result of a Central Government application. Cabinet documents reveal the Croft Ward has the lowest male life expectancy and healthy life expectancy in the county. Applications for licences opened on 16 September 2024, six weeks before the scheme came into force on 14 October 2024. Online application via the Metastreet portal at northumberland.metastreet.co.uk. Failure to hold a licence is a criminal offence. Financial penalties of up to £30,000 per non-compliant property, or prosecution through the courts. Rent repayment orders of up to 12 months' rent can also be sought. The selective licensing public register is at northumberland.metastreet.co.uk/public-register and is searchable by postcode. Property types covered: All private rented residential properties within the Croft Ward designated area, unless otherwise exempt. Excludes mandatory HMOs, local authority and registered social landlord tenancies, business tenancies, long leasehold properties (21+ years), certain family lets, and holiday lets.. Exemptions or exclusions: Mandatory HMOs (5+ occupants, 2+ households) properties where a Temporary Exemption Notice is in force (s.62 or s.86 Housing Act 2004) properties where a management order is in force (s.102 or s.113 Housing Act 2004) tenancies or licences granted by registered social landlords and housing providers business tenancies long leasehold properties (21+ years) certain family lets holiday lets..
Our current data shows this scheme based on public information. Always verify the latest fees, dates, and boundary wording on the official council page.
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 (82/100)
Sources checked
10
The key facts for Northumberland are well-documented and consistent across multiple sources: the council's own website (northumberland.gov.uk), NRLA July 2024 licensing update, Kamma property licensing guide (July 2024 data), and the Northumberland Gazette news coverage of Cabinet approval. Selective licensing scheme details (dates, area, fee structure) are confirmed by multiple sources. The absence of an additional HMO licensing scheme is confirmed by both Kamma and NRLA ('there are currently no active additional licensing schemes in Northumberland'). The mandatory HMO fee (£525 + £105/unit) is confirmed by Kamma (July 2024). The main areas of lower confidence are: (1) whether the mandatory HMO fee has been updated since July 2024 - no more recent source available; (2) exact Part A / Part B fee split for selective licensing - not published in any accessible source found.
There are two separate registers. The selective licensing public register is hosted at northumberland.metastreet.co.uk/public-register and is searchable by postcode (requires JavaScript enabled). It is updated as licences are issued and covers properties licensed under the Croft Ward scheme. The mandatory HMO public register is NOT available online. The Housing Act 2004 requires every local authority to maintain a public register of HMO-licensed premises. To obtain a copy, contact the Public Health Protection Unit: telephone 01670 623870 (8:30am-5pm Mon-Thu, 8:30am-4:30pm Fri); email public.protection@northumberland.gov.uk. The selective licensing register also includes any Temporary Exemption Notices served and any Interim/Final Management Orders.
Supporting sources
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 Northumberland.
Mandatory HMO licensing applies throughout England under the Housing Act 2004, covering the entire administrative area of Northumberland. Required for all HMOs occupied by five or more people living as two or more separate households who share facilities (kitchen, bathroom, toilet). Extended from 1 October 2018 to cover all HMOs regardless of number of storeys (previously required 3+ storeys).
The HMO public register is not available online. To obtain a copy, contact the Public Health Protection Unit: telephone 01670 623870 (available 8:30am-5pm Monday-Thursday, 8:30am-4:30pm Friday); email public.protection@northumberland.gov.uk. Required application documentation includes: completed HMO application form, HMO application guidance, 'fit and proper person' assessment form, and supporting documentation. A fit and proper person check is conducted using information from Northumbria Police and the Council Housing Benefit Department. Licence holders failing to comply with conditions may be issued a financial penalty notice of up to £30,000, prosecuted in court, have their licence reduced to one year, or have their licence revoked. Note: if a late application is made, the unlicensed period may be deducted from the maximum five-year licence period to ensure equity with timely applicants. Property types covered: All HMOs with five or more occupants from two or more households sharing basic amenities. Includes shared houses and flats occupied by students and young professionals, properties converted into bedsits with some shared facilities, and properties converted into a mix of self-contained and non-self-contained accommodation.. Exemptions or exclusions: HMOs with fewer than 5 occupants (though management standards still apply). Owner-occupied properties. Properties managed by public bodies. Properties regulated under other statutory frameworks..
In addition to licensing, all private landlords in England must comply with these requirements:
Use these routes to move from the Northumberland 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.
Understand selective licensing rules→
Read the guide if you want the broader legal background on how selective licensing works alongside this council page.
Need the area-based route→
Use the selective licensing page if the real question is whether a standard rented home sits inside a designated area.
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.
We only load optional Google Analytics and Google AdSense cookies if you accept them. They help us measure usage and fund the service. Privacy policy