North Yorkshire licensing / Selective licensing

Selective licensing in North Yorkshire

Active in North Yorkshire

Selective licensing applies to most private rented homes inside a designated area. North Yorkshire has at least one active selective scheme. The detail below is built from the council's own pages.

What selective licensing actually means

A council can designate any part of its area for selective licensing under Part 3 of the Housing Act 2004. Inside the designated area, almost every privately rented home needs a licence, whether the property is a single-family let, a small flat, or a house shared by a couple.

Selective licensing is not about HMOs. The rule keys off the fact that the home is privately rented, not how many people live in it or how many households share it.

Renting out without a licence inside a designated area is a criminal offence. Councils can apply a civil penalty of up to £40,000 per offence, and tenants can apply for a rent repayment order of up to 12 months of rent.

Check an address against the scheme

Enter the postcode and pick the address. We check the selected street against the council's published scheme area and tell you whether the licence applies.

North Yorkshire selective licensing schemes

North Yorkshire Scarborough South selective licensing

Selective licensing · active · Listed streets

Coverage: Listed streets
Runs: 1 May 2022 to 30 Apr 2027
Term: 5 years
Fee per property: £550

North Yorkshire selective licensing applies to privately rented properties in the listed Scarborough South streets, covering parts of Weaponness and Ramshill ward, from 1 May 2022 to 30 April 2027.

The scheme covers 47 named streets. The postcode tells you the council, but only the street name confirms whether the property is in scope. Adjacent streets can have different answers.

Single unit selective licence fee is £550, paid in two parts: £180 on application and £370 before the licence is issued. Blocks pay £550 for the first flat plus £100 for each extra flat.

Properties exempt from this scheme

Properties which are either mandatory licensed Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) or additional licensed HMOs as per the council's current additional licensing scheme
A temporary exemption notice is in force - s.62 or s.86 Housing Act 2004
A management order is in force - s.102 or s.113 Housing Act 2004
The tenancies and licences are subject to a prohibition order whose operation has not been suspended - s.20 / s.21 Housing Act 2004
The tenancy is a business tenancy
Certain premises licensed for alcohol consumption - only on-licences not off licences
Certain agricultural tenancies
Tenancies and licences granted by registered social landlords and housing providers
Buildings controlled or managed by the local housing authority
Buildings controlled or managed by the police
Buildings controlled or managed by the fire service
Buildings controlled or managed by the health service body
Tenancies and licences regulated by other enactments
Certain university/college accommodation occupied by students
Where the owner or their relatives occupy a property on a long leasehold
Where the landlord lets to certain relatives
Holiday homes
Where the landlord/licensor or their relative lives at the property and shares facilities

Discounts the council offers

£50 discount for members of National Residential Landlords Association, Eastern Landlord Association, National Approved Lettings Scheme or Association of Residential Lettings Agents.
£50 multiple application discount for each licence application after an initial licence application, except multiple licences in a block of flats where the landlord does not own the freehold.

A landlord who qualifies for the strongest energy and accreditation discounts on this scheme pays around £500 instead of the headline £550 fee, a saving of £50.

Streets covered

Albion Crescent, Albion Road, Alga Terrace, Back Crown Terrace, Back Oriel Crescent, Back South Street, Back Trinity Road, Belmont Road, Cambridge Terrace, Carlton Terrace, Craven Street, Cromwell Gardens, Cromwell Parade, Cromwell Road, Cromwell Terrace, Crown Close Back Road, Crown Crescent, Crown Crescent Back Road, Crown Terrace, Esplanade (1-30 inc.), Esplanade Gardens (37 only), Filey Road (1-19 odds only), Fulford Road (1 - 5a and 17 odds and just 2a, 2b and 2c evens), Greenfield Road, Grosvenor Crescent, Grosvenor Road, Montpellier Terrace, Oliver Street, Oriel Crescent, Prince of Wales Terrace, Princess Royal Lane, Princess Royal Terrace, Ramshill Road, Royal Avenue, Royal Crescent, Royal Crescent Lane, South Street, St Martins Avenue, St Martins Place, St Martins Road, St Martins Square, Trinity Road, Valley Road (evens only 32-58), West Street (1-15 odds and 2-8 evens), West Terrace, Westbourne Grove, Westbourne Road.

Apply for this licence on the council site

North Yorkshire Scarborough Town selective licensing

Selective licensing · active · Listed streets

Coverage: Listed streets
Runs: 1 Jun 2024 to 31 May 2029
Term: 5 years
Fee per property: £695

North Yorkshire selective licensing applies to privately rented properties in the listed Scarborough Town streets, covering parts of Castle, Falsgrave and Stepney, and Northstead divisions.

The scheme covers 94 named streets. The postcode tells you the council, but only the street name confirms whether the property is in scope. Adjacent streets can have different answers.

Single unit selective licence fee is £695, paid in two parts: £180 on application and £515 before the licence is issued. Blocks pay £695 for the first flat plus £100 for each extra flat.

Properties exempt from this scheme

Properties which are either mandatory licensed Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) or additional licensed HMOs as per the council's current additional licensing scheme
A temporary exemption notice is in force - s.62 or s.86 Housing Act 2004
A management order is in force - s.102 or s.113 Housing Act 2004
The tenancies and licences are subject to a prohibition order whose operation has not been suspended - s.20 / s.21 Housing Act 2004
The tenancy is a business tenancy
Certain premises licensed for alcohol consumption - only on-licences not off licences
Certain agricultural tenancies
Tenancies and licences granted by registered social landlords and housing providers
Buildings controlled or managed by the local housing authority
Buildings controlled or managed by the police
Buildings controlled or managed by the fire service
Buildings controlled or managed by the health service body
Tenancies and licences regulated by other enactments
Certain university/college accommodation occupied by students
Where the owner or their relatives occupy a property on a long leasehold
Where the landlord lets to certain relatives
Holiday homes
Where the landlord/licensor or their relative lives at the property and shares facilities

Discounts the council offers

£260 discount where the property was previously licensed within Scarborough North or Scarborough Central and the licence holder is the same.
£50 discount for members of National Residential Landlords Association, Eastern Landlord Association, SafeAgent, Association of Residential Lettings Agents or Propertymark.
£50 early bird discount for licence applications received and fully completed with all requested documentation by 31 August 2024.
£50 multiple application discount for each licence application after an initial licence application, except multiple licences in a block of flats where the landlord does not own the freehold.

A landlord who qualifies for the strongest energy and accreditation discounts on this scheme pays around £435 instead of the headline £695 fee, a saving of £260.

Streets covered

Aberdeen Place, Aberdeen Street, Aberdeen Terrace, Aberdeen Walk, Albemarle Back Road, Albemarle Crescent, Albert Street, Alma Parade, Alma Square, Arundel Place, Bar Street, Barwick Street, Bedford Street, Belgrave Crescent, Belle Vue Parade, Belle Vue Street, Beulah Terrace, Blands Cliff, Blenheim Street, Blenheim Terrace - 1 to 29, Cambridge Street, Castle Road - 1 to 93a odds and 2 to 110 evens - including Wilson Mariners homes, Clarence Place and Clarence Road, Clark Street, Clifton Street, Dean Road - 1 to 51 including Wheelhouse Square, Durham Street and Place, Eastborough, Elders Street, Falconers Road and Square, Falsgrave Road - 1 to 143 odds and 2 to 118 evens - including West Park Terrace, Fire Station Yard, Globe Street, Hanover Road, Harcourt Place, Hope Street, Howard Street, Hoxton Road, Huntriss Row, James Street, King Street, Leading Post Street, Market Street and Market Way, Marlborough Street and Terrace, Merchants Row, Mill Street, Morgan Street, Nelson Street, New Queen Street, Newborough, North Marine Road, North Street including Providence Place, Northway, Norwood Street, Oxford Street, Palace Hill and Palace Hill Lane, Pavilion Square and Terrace, Peel Terrace, Princess Square - 1 to 3, Prospect Place, Prospect Road - 1 to 39 odds only, Queen Street - 1 to 29 only, Queens Parade, Queens Terrace, Regent Street, Roscoe Street, Sandringham Street, Sherwood Street, Silver Street, St Helens Square, St Nicholas Street, St Thomas Street, Stanley Street, Sussex Street, Swan Hill Road, Sydney Street, Tindall Street, Trafalgar Road, Trafalgar Square, Trafalgar Street, Union Street, Valley Bridge Parade, Vernon Road - 1 to 6, Victoria Parade, Victoria Road, Victoria Street, Vincent Street, Vine Street, West Square, West Trafalgar Terrace, Westborough, Westwood, William Street, Wrea Lane.

Apply for this licence on the council site

Who needs a selective licence

If the property is inside the scheme area and rented out under most types of tenancy, the landlord usually needs a licence. That includes a couple renting a flat, a single tenant renting a whole house, and a family renting a terrace.

A selective licence does not normally apply to social housing, holiday lets, properties under the Housing Act 1985 Part 7, or homes already licensed as HMOs. The council's notice of designation lists the exact exemptions, and they vary scheme to scheme.

Whoever is in control of the property is responsible for the licence. That is normally the freeholder for a house, or the leaseholder for a flat. A managing agent can hold the licence with the landlord's written agreement.

Selective licensing and HMO licensing in North Yorkshire

Selective licensing and HMO licensing are different rules. A property only needs one licence at a time. If the property meets the test for a mandatory HMO (five or more people in two or more households) or for an additional HMO licence the council runs, that takes precedence and the property does not also need a selective licence.

North Yorkshire does not currently run an additional HMO licensing scheme. Larger HMOs still need a mandatory HMO licence under national law, but a small house share that does not meet the mandatory threshold falls back under selective licensing in scheme areas.

The practical effect: check the HMO rules first. If the property is an HMO under either definition, apply for the HMO licence. If it is a single-household let inside a designated selective area, apply for the selective licence instead.

How to apply

Applications go through the council. Most have an online form that takes the property address, the landlord and agent details, gas and electrical safety certificates, an Energy Performance Certificate, and proof of right to manage. Councils ask for the fee up front, usually split between a non-refundable application fee and a grant fee paid when the licence is issued.

A licence usually runs for five years. If the council renews the designation, every existing licence has to be re-applied for. Fees and conditions can change between renewals.

A licence is tied to the named landlord and the named property. Sell the property, change the manager, or move out and the licence does not transfer. The council needs a new application.

What happens if you do not licence

Renting out an unlicensed property in a designated area is a criminal offence under section 95 of the Housing Act 2004. Councils can prosecute, or apply a civil penalty of up to £40,000 instead under section 249A. The decision is the council's, and a civil penalty does not need a court case.

A tenant can apply for a rent repayment order for up to 12 months of rent already paid. Universal Credit and housing benefit paid for the same period can also be reclaimed by the council under section 41 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016. Two separate offences in 12 months can trigger a banning order, which removes the landlord from the rental market entirely.

A landlord who has not applied for a licence cannot serve a valid section 21 no-fault eviction notice. The block lasts until the licence is in place. A tenancy started inside the scheme area without a licence remains valid; only the eviction route is closed.

Talk to North Yorkshire directly

Anything on this page that you cannot find an answer to, the council's licensing team can confirm in minutes.

Phone the licensing team

0300 1312131

Apply for a licence

Application form on North Yorkshire's website

Public licence register

Search licensed properties in North Yorkshire

Official licensing page

North Yorkshire council guidance

Mortgage and insurance implications

A buy-to-let mortgage usually requires the landlord to hold any licence the council demands. Lenders ask for the licence reference at the point of letting and again at renewal. Letting an unlicensed property in a designated area can technically breach the mortgage terms, and lenders have called in loans on that basis.

Landlord insurance is similar. Insurers normally require any licensable property to actually be licensed, and a civil penalty or rent repayment order can void cover for related claims. Disclose the licence status on renewal.

Buyers of let properties in North Yorkshire should ask the seller for the licence reference and the conditions attached to it. The licence ends on sale, but the conditions tell the buyer what improvements the council has already required.