Selective Licensing in Newcastle 2026: What HMO Landlords in Byker, Allendale Road & Greater High Cross Need to Know
From August 2025 to October 2025, Newcastle City Council is consulting on renewing its Selective Licensing Schemes for another five years. If approved, this means landlords in Byker Old Town, Allendale Road, and Greater High Cross will need to apply for a licence in order to rent out their properties from 2026.
But what does selective licensing mean, and what does it mean for landlords with HMOs or single lets in these areas?
What is selective licensing?
A selective licensing scheme means that all private landlords within the designated area must apply for a licence from the Council to legally rent out their property (unless an exemption applies).
The goals are simple:
Improve housing conditions and standards in the private rental sector
Reduce anti-social behaviour and community issues linked to poor property management
Give tenants confidence that their home will be safe, well-maintained, and properly managed
Selective licensing is already in place across several parts of Newcastle, and these new proposals would extend coverage in Byker, Benwell & Scotswood, and Elswick wards.
How does this affect HMO landlords?
If you already have a mandatory HMO licence (for properties with 5+ tenants from more than one household), selective licensing doesn’t replace it. In many cases, you’ll need both licences.
This means:
More conditions to comply with
Extra management responsibilities
Additional costs (licence fees typically run several hundred pounds per property, valid for up to 5 years)
The Council will be looking for evidence that properties are being well-managed and maintained to a good standard. Poorly managed communal areas, waste build-up, or tenant complaints could all affect compliance.
Key proposed areas for 2026
If the schemes are renewed, all private rented properties in the following zones will require selective licences:
Byker Old Town
Allendale Road
Greater High Cross
This is in addition to the seven existing selective licensing areas already operating in Newcastle.
What happens next?
The consultation runs until 26 October 2025, with public events being held throughout September at:
Welbeck Road Evangelical Church (3rd Sept, 5–7pm)
West End Customer Service Centre & Library (10th Sept, 5–7pm)
Newcastle Civic Centre Council Chamber (17th Sept, 5–7pm)
After consultation closes, the Council will publish findings and confirm the final scheme.
How Breezy Cleans can help landlords prepare
At Breezy Cleans, we specialise in HMO communal cleaning and property upkeep across Newcastle. With selective licensing set to be renewed in Byker, Allendale Road, and Greater High Cross, now is the time for landlords to get ahead.
We provide:
Weekly and bi-weekly HMO communal cleaning to keep your property in line with licensing standards
Photo proof and digital checklists after every clean for your records — perfect evidence if the Council inspects
Bin day management to avoid waste build-up (a common licensing breach)
Hands-off service with key code/key safe access so you don’t need to attend the property
Our goal is simple: to give landlords peace of mind that their properties will meet the standards required under selective licensing, keeping tenants happy and licensing officers satisfied.
Need help with your Byker, Allendale Road, or Greater High Cross HMOs?
Get in touch with us today to discuss how we can keep your properties compliant and ready for Newcastle’s 2026 selective licensing schemes.
👉 E-mail us at info@breezycleans.co.uk.
Further Reading & Sources
For official details on Newcastle’s selective licensing consultation and proposed areas, visit: