DIY InventoryLetting a property in Gateshead: a landlord’s guide
Licensing, certificates, deposits and the local figures for landlords letting in Gateshead.
General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.
Landlord licensing in Gateshead
- Selective licensing: Selective licensing in 16 neighbourhoods, in two phases: phase 1 (including Bensham, The Avenues, Windmill Hills, Beacon Lough East, Birtley and Chopwell) from 1 June 2025 to 31 May 2030, and phase 2 (more of central Gateshead, Felling and Swalwell) from 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2030.
- Additional HMO licensing: Additional HMO licensing for smaller HMOs of three or four unrelated people in the same designated neighbourhoods, from 1 June 2025 to 31 May 2030; larger HMOs need a mandatory licence.
- Fees: £850 for a selective licence and £976.30 for an additional HMO licence, with a £75 discount for accredited landlords
Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Gateshead Council.
Gateshead Council: private renting and licensing
Safety certificates
- Gas Safety (CP12): every 12 months, by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
- EICR: at least every 5 years, by a qualified electrician.
- EPC: rated E or above, valid for 10 years.
- Alarms: a smoke alarm on every storey, and a carbon monoxide alarm in rooms with a fixed combustion appliance (not gas cookers).
Book a Gas Safety certificate, EICR or EPC in Gateshead at a fixed price, and keep track of expiry dates in the free landlord dashboard.
Deposits and the inventory
Protect the deposit in the DPS, TDS or mydeposits within 30 days. At the end, the scheme decides any dispute on the evidence, above all the check-in compared with the check-out, so the inventory is what protects you.
What to record in Gateshead homes
- Tyneside flats in Bensham and Saltwell: record which yard, outhouse and bin belong to the flat, and photograph the separate front door, stairs and back lane access.
- Victorian terraces in Low Fell and Felling: check for damp at the base of walls and in rear kitchens, and photograph sash or replacement windows.
- Back lanes behind terraces: photograph rear gates, yard walls and bins, and note any fly-tipping at the start of the tenancy.
- Post-war estate houses: record the boiler, windows and doors, and the condition of gardens and fencing.
- Flats in town centre blocks: note fob and key counts, lifts, communal entrances and bin stores.
- Homes in the Derwent valley and on hillsides: photograph gutters, steps and retaining walls, and any damp on exposed walls.
Homes sold in Gateshead in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Terraced | 671 | £155,276 |
| Semi-detached | 619 | £190,069 |
| Flat or maisonette | 346 | £103,488 |
| Detached | 220 | £331,051 |
| Other | 105 | £293,206 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
Letting in Gateshead: questions
Is there selective licensing in Gateshead?
Selective licensing in 16 neighbourhoods, in two phases: phase 1 (including Bensham, The Avenues, Windmill Hills, Beacon Lough East, Birtley and Chopwell) from 1 June 2025 to 31 May 2030, and phase 2 (more of central Gateshead, Felling and Swalwell) from 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2030. Check the council’s page before letting: schemes are renewed and changed every few years.
What certificates does a landlord need in Gateshead?
A Gas Safety certificate every 12 months (where there is gas), an electrical safety report (EICR) at least every 5 years, and a valid EPC rated E or above, plus working smoke alarms on every storey and carbon monoxide alarms by fixed combustion appliances.
How long do I have to protect a deposit?
30 days from receiving it, in the DPS, TDS or mydeposits, with the prescribed information given to the tenant in the same 30 days.
Do I need an inventory as a landlord in Gateshead?
It isn’t a legal requirement, but without a signed check-in record it is very hard to claim anything from the deposit at the end. With DIY Inventory you can do it yourself for £30, or send your tenant a link to do it.