County Durham landlords could face a wider selective licensing net from April 2027 after the council confirmed plans for a fresh scheme covering an estimated 20,000 private rented homes.
County Durham lines up a new selective licensing map
Durham County Council’s current selective licensing scheme started on 1 April 2022 and is due to expire on 31 March 2027. The council says there are currently 103 designated areas, with landlords in those zones required to obtain a licence, meet management standards and provide key compliance documents including gas safety records, electrical checks, tenancy agreements and EPCs.
The new proposals, reported this week ahead of a June consultation, would redraw the map rather than simply roll the current scheme forward. Areas that still meet the legal tests could stay in, while others would drop out. For landlords, that matters because a future designation would mean a new round of fees, paperwork and compliance checks from 2027.
The council’s existing scheme already carries a licence fee of £585 per property, with discounts only in limited cases. It also warns that letting a licensable property without a licence can lead to prosecution, an unlimited fine or a civil penalty of up to £30,000, alongside the risk of a rent repayment order.
Why this matters beyond County Durham
The Durham move fits a wider pattern of councils extending or redrawing licensing schemes as enforcement powers harden. Landlord Knowledge recently reported on Slough’s bid to revive borough-wide landlord licensing, while Telford has already lined up wider HMO licensing from August.
This follows Landlord Knowledge’s coverage of licensing expansion elsewhere, including schemes that increasingly combine higher standards with tougher civil penalties. The Durham consultation suggests councils are not stepping back after the Renters’ Rights Act start – they are pressing on with local enforcement tools that can add another layer of cost and risk for landlords.
One practical point for landlords is timing. Even though any replacement scheme would not start until April 2027, portfolio owners in affected Durham areas have a chance to review property condition, paperwork and management arrangements well before the next licensing deadline lands. That may be the difference between a routine renewal and an expensive scramble.
Landlords should also watch how far the final designation spreads. A broader scheme could pull in homes that are currently outside licensing, especially older stock in lower-value areas where councils argue there is more management failure, deprivation or anti-social behaviour.
For the council, the challenge will be proving the scheme is still targeted and evidence-led. For landlords, the simpler point is that licensing rarely gets cheaper or lighter once it comes back.
Full details of the current scheme, fees and licence conditions are set out on Durham County Council’s selective licensing page.
What this means for landlords
- If you own in County Durham: check now whether your postcodes sit inside the current designated areas and whether they could stay in a replacement scheme.
- Budget early: a new licence round from 2027 could mean fresh fees and updated compliance documents for each affected property.
- Watch for: the council’s June consultation, which should show whether coverage is narrowing, expanding or simply shifting between neighbourhoods.
- Do the basics: gas, electrical, EPC and tenancy paperwork should be easy to produce long before any new application window opens.
- Bottom line: selective licensing is becoming a long-term operating cost in more northern markets, not a one-off policy experiment.
Editor’s view
Durham is a useful reminder that local regulation is still moving even after the Renters’ Rights Act switch. Landlords who treat licensing as a side issue tend to end up paying the highest price when councils redraw the boundary lines.
Author: Editorial Team – UK landlord & buy-to-let news, policy, and finance
Published: 11 May 2026
Sources: Durham County Council
Related reading: Slough moves to revive borough-wide landlord licensing
