Landlord licensing in Darlington Council

Licensing at a glance

HMO licensing

Mandatory HMO licensing applies to any property occupied by five or more people forming two or more separate households who share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet.

Additional licensing

Darlington Council may introduce additional licensing schemes for smaller HMOs. These designations typically run for up to five years and can be ward or street-specific. Landlords should check for current schemes that may affect their property.

Selective licensing

Darlington Council may designate areas for selective licensing, requiring all private rented homes, including single-family lets, to be licensed. Landlords must check for current designations affecting their property before letting.

Towns covered

Darlington

What this means for you

If you let a property in the Darlington Council area, first confirm which licensing regime applies to the specific address. Mandatory HMO licensing applies to properties let to five or more people, forming two or more households, who share facilities. Additional licensing can extend this to smaller HMOs, with designations running for up to five years and being ward or street-specific. Selective licensing can require a licence for every private rented home in a designated area, including single-family lets. Check current designations before advertising. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 (main provisions commence 2026) replaces fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies with periodic assured tenancies and ends Section 21 no-fault evictions. Landlords must keep an evidence pack for every tenancy, including a current gas safety record, an EICR no more than five years old, a valid EPC, working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, deposit protection, prescribed information, and required documents served before tenancy starts.

Official links

• Licensing pages
• Council website