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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: 3 July 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.
What are the licensing requirements for Peterborough?
Mandatory licensing in Peterborough
Mandatory HMO licensing applies across Peterborough (and all of England) to larger HMOs — 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 — 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 license cost?
Peterborough City Council charges two-part fees for each scheme:
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Mandatory HMO | £1,100 total — Part A £367 + Part B £733. |
| Additional HMO | £1,100 total — Part A £588 + Part B £512. |
| Selective | £908 total — Part A £538 + Part B £370. |
Fees are set by the council and can change — check Peterborough City Council’s licensing pages for the latest figures.
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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 an unlicensed property that requires a licence can bring civil penalties of up to £40,000 per property, rent repayment orders of up to 24 months, and being unable to serve a Section 21 notice. Letting agents can be held jointly liable.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.
How long does an application take?
Processing times vary with the council’s workload and the quality of the application. A complete, correctly prepared application is processed fastest.
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, civil penalties of up to £40,000 per property, and rent repayment orders of up to 24 months — with letting agents jointly liable alongside landlords.
