Selective licensing in Peterborough
Yes. Peterborough operates a selective licensing scheme. Letting a covered property without a licence risks a civil penalty of up to £40,000 and a rent repayment order of up to two years' rent.
Common questions
Do I need a selective licence in Peterborough?
Yes. Peterborough operates a selective licensing scheme. Letting a covered property without a licence risks a civil penalty of up to £40,000 and a rent repayment order of up to two years' rent.
Which areas of Peterborough does the scheme cover?
Ten wards: Bretton, Central, East, Fletton and Stanground, Fletton and Woodston, North, Orton Waterville, Park, Paston and Walton, Stanground South. Confirm a specific address against the council's own designation map before applying.
When does Peterborough's scheme end?
The designation runs until 10 March 2029, unless the council revokes it earlier under section 84 of the Housing Act 2004.
What does the licence cost?
£908. Councils commonly discount for accredited landlords and early applications; confirm the current figure with Peterborough before budgeting.
Paid in two parts — one on application, the balance before the licence is issued.
| Part A | £538 |
| Part B | £370 |
| Total | £908 |
Peterborough — Peterborough Selective Licensing Scheme overview page, read 19 Aug 2026
What the designation says
Peterborough operates a selective licensing scheme covering ten electoral wards: Bretton, Central, East, Fletton and Stanground, Fletton and Woodston, North, Orton Waterville, Park, Paston and Walton, and Stanground South. It came into force on 11 March 2024 and the designation runs to 10 March 2029. Within those wards a privately rented property meeting the scheme's criteria needs a licence regardless of how many people occupy it. The fee is £908, taken in two parts: £538 on application and £370 on grant. Landlords who already hold a selective licence for a property occupied by three or four people have had it passported across to the city-wide additional HMO scheme that launched on 26 January 2026, so there is no need to apply for both — the council contacts affected owners directly. Because only ten of the city's wards are designated, a landlord should check a specific address against the council's published boundary rather than assume from the postcode. Letting an unlicensed property inside a designated ward is a criminal offence carrying a civil penalty of up to £40,000 or prosecution, and exposes the landlord to a rent repayment order. The £40,000 ceiling applies to offences committed on or after 1 May 2026; the £30,000 ceiling still applies to offences committed before that date.
What this means for a landlord
A licence must be in place before the property is let, not applied for afterwards. Operating unlicensed in a designated area is a criminal offence: a civil penalty of up to £40,000 per offence and a rent repayment order of up to two years' rent. Both maxima apply to conduct on or after 1 May 2026; before that date they were £30,000 and twelve months. Section 21 was abolished on 1 May 2026 and possession now runs through the amended section 8 grounds. Mandatory HMO licensing applies separately and everywhere, wherever a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households.
Information tool, not legal advice. Confirm the position with Peterborough before letting.