What licensing schemes does Peterborough operate?

Peterborough operates selective and additional licensing (11 March 2024 to 10 March 2029), alongside the national mandatory HMO scheme. See the scheme details above.

Do all properties in Peterborough need a licence?

It depends on the scheme and your property. Where selective licensing applies, most privately rented homes need a licence; HMOs fall under mandatory or additional licensing depending on size and occupancy.

What if my property doesn't have a licence?

Operating a property that requires a licence without one can bring civil penalties of up to £40,000 per property. The landlord also risks a rent repayment order of up to 24 months' rent and cannot serve a Section 21 notice. A letting agent who manages the property or collects the rent commits the offence too and can be fined separately.

Can letting agents apply on behalf of landlords?

Yes. Letting agents can apply for property licences on behalf of landlords in Peterborough, and many manage the full process.

How do I apply for a Peterborough property licence?

You can apply through Peterborough Council's website ( licensing pages ), or use a managed service such as Kamma.

Why did Peterborough introduce selective licensing?

Selective licensing is used to improve housing conditions and tackle anti-social behaviour in the private rented sector.

Why did Peterborough introduce additional licensing?

Additional HMO licensing addresses overcrowding, disrepair and management standards in smaller HMOs not covered by the national mandatory scheme.

What are the conditions to obtain an HMO licence in Peterborough?

The council's HMO licence conditions set standards for fire safety, amenities, room sizes and management ( licence conditions ).

SELECTIVE AND ADDITIONAL LICENSING · LIVE

Peterborough Property Licensing: Do You Need a Licence?

Peterborough operates selective and additional licensing alongside the national mandatory HMO scheme. Most privately rented homes need a licence, and enforcement is rising.

Check your portfolio for risk

Map of property licensing by ward in Peterborough. Selective licensing in 11 of the 22 wards and additional HMO licensing across the whole council area applies now.

Selective + additional licensing now

Additional (HMO) licensing now

Part of ward only

Street-level scheme; shading approximate

Peterborough Council Is Moving To Data-Led Enforcement

Councils are using data to identify unlicensed properties, and agents who manage them can be fined in their own right

Up to £40k fine per unlicensed property

Rent Repayment Orders up to 24 months

£7,800 average fine for letting agents

Most enforcement activity happens within the first 3–6 months of scheme launch.

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Property Licensing Guide for Peterborough

Peterborough currently operates selective licensing in 11 wards and additional licensing in 22 wards; mandatory HMO licensing applies everywhere. Last checked: 25 August 2026.

This free guide will provide you with the key details regarding what licensing requirements are necessary in this area and how to apply for a licence.

New to this? Read our overview: What is selective licensing?

Peterborough Property Licensing Schemes

Got questions about licensing schemes in Peterborough? We’re here to help. This free guide will provide you with the key details regarding what licensing requirements are necessary in Peterborough and how to apply for a licence.

Is manual compliance causing a headache for your agency? At Kamma, we specialise in automating licensing compliance for agents across the UK. If you need any assistance in getting your property portfolio compliant, find out how we can help letting agents here.

Not sure whether a Peterborough property needs a licence? Kamma's free checker covers selective, additional and HMO schemes.

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What are the licensing requirements for Peterborough?

Mandatory licensing in Peterborough

Mandatory HMO licensing applies across Peterborough (and all of England) to larger HMOs. These are properties occupied by five or more people forming more than one household, including:

Shared houses and flats occupied by students and young professionals.
Properties converted into bedsits with some shared facilities.
Properties converted into a mix of self-contained and non-self-contained accommodation.

Do I need an additional property licence in Peterborough?

Additional licensing requires smaller HMOs in a designated area to be licensed. That means a privately rented property with three or more people forming more than one household.

Peterborough operates additional HMO licensing. The current designation is set out below.

Do I need a selective licence in Peterborough?

Selective licensing requires almost all privately rented properties in a designated area to be licensed, regardless of the number of occupants.

Peterborough operates selective licensing. The current designation is set out below.

Additional licensing: 26 January 2026 to 25 January 2031, covering Barnack, Bretton, Central, Dogsthorpe, East, Eye, Thorney and Newborough, Fletton and Stanground, Fletton and Woodston, Glinton and Castor, Gunthorpe, Hampton Vale, Hargate and Hempsted, North, Orton Longueville, Orton Waterville, Park, Paston and Walton, Ravensthorpe, Stanground South, Werrington, West and Wittering.
Selective licensing: 11 March 2024 to 10 March 2029, covering Bretton, Central, East, Fletton and Stanground, Fletton and Woodston, Hampton Vale, North, Orton Waterville, Park, Paston and Walton and Stanground South.
Mandatory HMO licensing: in force since 2006 for HMOs of five or more people forming more than one household.

How do I apply for a licence?

You can apply for a licence via Peterborough Council’s website here. Or let Kamma’s expert team process the application for you.

How much does a licence cost?

Licence fees

Licence	Fee
Selective licence	£908 per property
Additional HMO licence	£1,100 per property
Mandatory HMO licence	£1,100 per property

Fees as published by the council, verified 20 July 2026; subject to change. See the council’s fee page for full schedules, payment stages and discounts.

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Peterborough's licensing schemes are set out below. Check any Peterborough address against them.

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Peterborough Property Licensing FAQs

What licensing schemes does Peterborough operate?
Peterborough operates selective and additional licensing (11 March 2024 to 10 March 2029), alongside the national mandatory HMO scheme. See the scheme details above.
Do all properties in Peterborough need a licence?
It depends on the scheme and your property. Where selective licensing applies, most privately rented homes need a licence; HMOs fall under mandatory or additional licensing depending on size and occupancy.
What if my property doesn't have a licence?
Operating a property that requires a licence without one can bring civil penalties of up to £40,000 per property. The landlord also risks a rent repayment order of up to 24 months’ rent and cannot serve a Section 21 notice. A letting agent who manages the property or collects the rent commits the offence too and can be fined separately.
Can letting agents apply on behalf of landlords?
Yes. Letting agents can apply for property licences on behalf of landlords in Peterborough, and many manage the full process.
How do I apply for a Peterborough property licence?
You can apply through Peterborough Council’s website (licensing pages), or use a managed service such as Kamma.
Why did Peterborough introduce selective licensing?
Selective licensing is used to improve housing conditions and tackle anti-social behaviour in the private rented sector.
Why did Peterborough introduce additional licensing?
Additional HMO licensing addresses overcrowding, disrepair and management standards in smaller HMOs not covered by the national mandatory scheme.
What are the conditions to obtain an HMO licence in Peterborough?
The council’s HMO licence conditions set standards for fire safety, amenities, room sizes and management (licence conditions).

About Peterborough

Peterborough is a city and unitary authority in the geographic county of Cambridgeshire, England. It includes the historic region called the Soke of Peterborough, part of Northamptonshire, as well as areas in Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire. Situated along the navigable River Nene and on the edge of the fertile Fens, Peterborough has a rich agricultural history. The Fens, reclaimed from marshland between the 17th and 19th centuries, are now highly productive agricultural land, with many of the region’s products processed in Peterborough’s factories.

Licensing Enforcement in Peterborough

Peterborough Council enforces property licensing across its schemes. Letting a property without the required licence risks prosecution and civil penalties of up to £40,000 per property. The landlord can also face a rent repayment order of up to 24 months’ rent. Where a letting agent manages the property or collects the rent, the agent commits the offence too and can be fined in its own right.