What is a selective licensing scheme?
A selective licensing scheme means that all private landlords in the area covered by the scheme must have a licence from the Council to rent out property. The aims are: 1) to improve the private rented market, because properties must be of a decent standard before landlords can rent them out, and 2) to give tenants more confidence that houses and flats in the area covered by the scheme will be healthy and safe to live in. There are seven 'selective licensing' areas already operating in Newcastle. We are consulting on our proposals which could see the renewal of selective licensing schemes in the following areas for another five years.
A selective licensing scheme means that all private landlords in the area covered by the scheme must have a licence from the Council to rent out property. The aims are: 1) to improve the private rented market, because properties must be of a decent standard before landlords can rent them out, and 2) to give tenants more confidence that houses and flats in the area covered by the scheme will be healthy and safe to live in. There are seven 'selective licensing' areas already operating in Newcastle. We are consulting on our proposals which could see the renewal of selective licensing schemes in the following areas for another five years.
- Byker Old Town
- Allendale Road
- Greater High Cross
All private rented properties within a selective licensing area require a licence unless they are otherwise exempt.
What we would like you to do:
Please look at what we propose by reading these documents:
What we would like you to do:
Please look at what we propose by reading these documents:
- Proposed street lists and illustrative maps
- 2026 Byker High Cross Proposed selective licensing schemes - key information
Then please give us your views by:
- completing the short form below. You can also open the form in a new window by clicking this link: Newcastle Selective Property Licensing in 2026 Byker, Allendale Road and Greater High Cross
- commenting using the topic wall space below.
- emailing us at: propertylicensing@newcastle.gov.uk
- Attending one of our events - details below:
Events
All events will have a presentation between 5-5.30pm followed by a Q&A session.
- Wednesday 3 September – 5-7pm: Welbeck Road Evangelical Church (access guide: 2025 07 Welbeck Road Evangelical Church accessibility)
- Wednesday 10 September – 5-7pm: West End Customer Service Centre & Library (access guide: 2025 07 West End Library accessibility)
- Wednesday 17 September – 5-7pm: Newcastle Civic Centre Council Chamber (access guide: 2025 07 Civic Centre accessibility)
We will keep your responses private and not share them with anyone else, and you cannot be identified from them. You can read our Privacy Policy here: Privacy Policy
If you need this information in another format, such as large print, or you have questions about this, please contact us at: letstalk@newcastle.gov.uk or call: 0191 278 7878.
What happens next
Your answers will be used to help shape the final Selective Licensing Schemes. We will publish the findings from what you tell us on Let's talk Newcastle Online here: Results
More information
You can find out more about property licensing schemes in general here: Property Licensing Schemes in Newcastle. You can find out more information, including the full details of the evidence we used to identify the need for new property licensing schemes in the Cabinet Report, online: here.
Thank you for giving us your views.
