Stockton-on-Tees Landlord Compliance 2026 — Renters' Rights Act, HMO Licensing and Teesside PRS Obligations

Renters' Rights Act 2025 — England-wide obligations from 1 May 2026

All Stockton-on-Tees private landlords must comply with these national changes from 1 May 2026:

• Section 21 abolished: No-fault eviction notices served on or after 1 May 2026 are unlawful and void. All possession must use Section 8 and one of the statutory Schedule 2 grounds under the Housing Act 1988 (as amended by the RRA 2025)
• Periodic Assured Tenancy Agreement required: All new tenancies from 1 May 2026 must use a Periodic Assured Tenancy (PAT) agreement. Fixed-term Assured Shorthold Tenancies are no longer available for new private residential lets in England
• Awaab's Law in force: Mandatory statutory timeframes apply for acknowledging, investigating, and repairing damp, mould, and HHSRS hazards — particularly relevant to Stockton's older terrace and semi-detached stock in central areas
• Information Sheet obligation: Every landlord with a tenancy in place on 1 May 2026 was required to serve the official RRA 2025 Information Sheet on every named tenant by 31 May 2026. That deadline has passed — serve immediately if not yet done. Penalty: up to £7,000 per tenancy
• Pet request right: Tenants on PATs have a statutory right to request a pet in writing. Landlords must respond in writing within 42 days; no response is deemed consent
• Civil penalties up to £40,000: The RRA 2025 increases maximum civil penalties for PRS non-compliance from £30,000 to £40,000 per offence
• Rent increase via Section 13 only: Rent on a PAT can only be raised via a formal Section 13 notice using Form 4A, once every 12 months. Contractual rent-review clauses in new PAT agreements are unenforceable

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council — HMO and licensing

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council administers mandatory HMO licensing and any additional or selective licensing schemes across the borough. The borough covers a mix of urban and suburban areas with significant variation in housing stock.

• Mandatory HMO licensing: All properties in Stockton-on-Tees occupied by 5 or more people forming 2 or more separate households require a mandatory HMO licence under the Housing Act 2004. This applies across the whole borough
• Additional HMO licensing: Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council's current position on additional licensing for smaller HMOs (3–4 occupants) should be confirmed directly with the council's Private Sector Housing team — designations can be introduced by councils at short notice following statutory consultation
• Selective licensing: Landlords in central Stockton and parts of Thornaby should verify the current licensing status with the council. The Borough Council has historic experience with selective licensing designations in areas with concentrations of private rented stock
• Licence conditions: HMO licence conditions specify minimum room sizes (6.51 m² for a single adult, 10.22 m² for two adults), required fire detection grade and type, emergency lighting, and maximum permitted occupancy
• No-licence consequences: Operating an HMO without a required licence is a criminal offence. Fines of up to £30,000 apply, and unlicensed landlords cannot rely on Ground 8 rent arrears possession and face rent repayment order exposure of up to 12 months' rent

Section 8 possession in Stockton-on-Tees post-May 2026

With Section 21 abolished, Stockton-on-Tees landlords must use Section 8 and establish a statutory ground. Key grounds and notice periods post-May 2026:

• Ground 1A (selling the property): 4 months' notice; 12-month re-letting ban after possession. Cannot be used in the first 12 months of the tenancy
• Ground 1 (own occupation): 4 months' notice; 12-month re-letting ban. Landlord or close family member moving in as principal home
• Ground 7A (anti-social behaviour): Immediate to 4 weeks' notice depending on severity, prior conviction or closure order
• Ground 8 (rent arrears — 3 months+): 4 weeks' notice. Tenant must be at least 3 months in arrears at date of notice and at hearing. A mandatory ground
• Ground 8A (persistent arrears): New under RRA 2025; applies where rent has been 2+ months in arrears on 3 separate occasions in the preceding 3 years. 4 weeks' notice. Discretionary
• County Court process: After serving a valid Section 8 notice (Form 3A) and waiting for the notice period, apply to the County Court using Form N5B. Stockton-on-Tees cases are heard at Teesside County Court

Awaab's Law — damp, mould and HHSRS hazards in Stockton-on-Tees

Awaab's Law, extended to the private rented sector by the RRA 2025, imposes mandatory hazard response timeframes. Much of Stockton-on-Tees's older terrace stock in central areas is particularly vulnerable to condensation damp:

• Emergency hazards: Must be investigated within 24 hours and emergency works begun within 24 hours of investigation
• Damp and mould: Must be investigated within 14 days; remediation works must begin within 7 days of the investigation report
• Other hazards: Non-emergency HHSRS hazards must be investigated within 48 hours; remediation begun within a reasonable timeframe
• Documentation: Keep a written record of every tenant complaint, every inspection, every investigation report, and every works order. The council can request this evidence
• Stockton's older stock: Terrace properties in Norton Road, Mandale, and central Thornaby areas frequently have solid-wall construction with limited insulation — a known risk factor for condensation damp. Commission a thermal survey before renting and address ventilation deficiencies proactively

Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards and EPC obligations

All residential lets in Stockton-on-Tees must meet minimum EPC requirements. Changes to MEES are due in the next two years:

• Current requirement: All private lets in England must have an EPC of at least Band E. It is unlawful to grant a new tenancy on a Band F or G property
• EPC C target for 2030: The Government has confirmed an EPC C target for new tenancies by 2030 and all tenancies by 2033, subject to finalisation. Stockton landlords with older pre-1970 terrace stock should commission energy assessments now to understand the upgrade cost
• Warm Homes Plan grants: The Government's Warm Homes Plan includes landlord-accessible grants for insulation, heat pumps and glazing in low-income areas. Parts of Stockton-on-Tees borough qualify based on Index of Multiple Deprivation data
• EPC registration: All EPCs must be registered on the EPC register. EPCs are valid for 10 years. A new EPC is required if works materially change the property's energy performance
• MEES exemptions: Landlords who cannot achieve Band E after spending up to £3,500 can register a cost cap exemption on the PRS Exemptions Register. Exemptions last 5 years and must be renewed

Gas, electrical and fire safety in Stockton-on-Tees

England-wide safety certificate obligations apply to all Stockton-on-Tees private rented properties:

• Gas Safety Certificate: Annual inspection by a Gas Safe registered engineer required for every property with gas appliances. Certificate must be given to the tenant within 28 days of issue
• EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report): Required every 5 years for all private lets. Current EICR must be provided to new tenants at the start of each tenancy
• Smoke alarms: A working smoke alarm on every storey is mandatory. Carbon monoxide detector required in every room with a fixed combustion appliance
• Fire risk assessment (HMOs): All HMOs require a documented fire risk assessment. This must be reviewed annually or after any material change to the property
• Portable Appliance Testing: Not legally mandatory for non-HMO private lets in England, but good practice and required under most HMO licence conditions in Stockton

Deposit protection in Stockton-on-Tees

Deposit protection rules are unchanged by the RRA 2025 and apply to all Stockton-on-Tees private lets:

• 30-day protection window: Any deposit received must be protected in a government-approved scheme (DPS, MyDeposits, or TDS) within 30 days of receipt
• Prescribed Information: The Prescribed Information document setting out the scheme used and the tenant's rights must be served on the tenant and any third-party contributor within 30 days
• Consequences of non-protection: A landlord who fails to protect a deposit cannot serve a valid Section 8 notice on certain grounds. Courts can award the tenant between one and three times the deposit value as a penalty
• Deposit cap: Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, deposits are capped at 5 weeks' rent (or 6 weeks' rent where annual rent exceeds £50,000)

Right to Rent checks in Stockton-on-Tees

All landlords in England must carry out Right to Rent checks before the tenancy begins. Non-compliance carries criminal penalties:

• Unlimited fine and prison: Since February 2024, knowingly renting to a person with no right to rent is a criminal offence carrying an unlimited fine and up to 5 years' imprisonment
• Civil penalty: Renting to a person with no right to rent where you did not follow the correct checking procedure carries a civil penalty of up to £20,000 per occupier
• Share Code verification: Most tenants now evidence right to rent via the UK Visas and Immigration online Share Code service. Check within 28 days before the tenancy begins
• Document-based checks: UK and Irish citizens may use document-based checking. A passport or birth certificate plus National Insurance number satisfies the check
• Repeat checks: Where a tenant has a time-limited right to remain, a follow-up check is required before the earlier of the lease or their visa expiry date

Get compliant: documents Stockton-on-Tees landlords need

LetSafe UK provides regulation-current compliance documents for Stockton-on-Tees landlords. All templates are written to comply with the Renters' Rights Act 2025 in its current form:

• Periodic Assured Tenancy Agreement (LS-E-001): The replacement for the AST, compliant with the RRA 2025 PAT regime. Includes pet request procedure, Section 13 rent increase clause, and all prescribed terms
• Section 8 Notice Pack (LS-E-010): Form 3A-compliant Section 8 notices for all grounds, including the updated mandatory and discretionary grounds introduced by the RRA 2025
• Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet (LS-E-011): The official information sheet you must serve on every existing tenant. Pre-completion form ready to date and serve

Frequently asked questions