Durham Council's new selective licensing scheme is due to start on April 1st and will run until 31st March 2027. Private landlords with single household properties (that don't qualify for an exemption from licensing) within certain post codes will be required to apply for a licence to operate and rent out their property otherwise they will be committing a criminal offence.

Licence fee discounts will apply for landlords making their licence applications within relevant timescales and if the applicant is already part of an accreditation scheme. The council has included a post code checker so that landlords in Durham can check whether their property is within the licensing designation area.