Contact Information
Selective Licensing - Peterborough City CouncilSand Martin HouseBittern WayPeterboroughPE2 8TY
Resolved: At the end of the petition period
Introduction
Peterborough City Council’s existing selective licensing scheme for private sector landlords in parts of the city expired on 31 October 2021.
We are now proposing to make an application to implement a new scheme which builds on its successes, and continues to help tackle issues which can be caused as a result of high density private rented housing.
Background
In 2016, Peterborough City Council gained approval from the Secretary of State to operate a Selective Licensing scheme to help tackle issues which can be caused as a result of high density private rented housing.
The original scheme was a great success - with reports of anti-social behaviour decreasing at a faster rate in the chosen areas than across the whole city.
In the five years that the scheme ran, the council received 8,995 applications, with more than 7,900 licences being granted, 660 rejected and over 240 revoked. A further 200 properties are still under investigation as potentially being unlicensed.
More than 7,200 properties have had an initial inspection, which has led to issues including excess cold, damp and mould, and electrical fire safety hazards, being identified and fixed.
In total, 22 legal cases were carried out against landlords and letting agencies who were issued with civil penalties or prosecuted.
Consultation on new scheme and next steps
The previous scheme expired on 31 October 2021, and the council is now considering whether to make a new application to the Secretary of State. As part of this process, we held a consultation on Selective Licensing from 20 January 2022 - 13 April 2022, to seek views on the potential locations for a new scheme, as well as fees and terms and conditions of the licence.
Where relevant, feedback received during the consultation will shape the final proposals, which we expect to make an application for in early summer 2022.
If the application is accepted, the number of areas covered by selective licensing would increase to include areas within:
- Bretton
- Central
- East
- Fletton and Woodston
- Fletton and Stanground
- Paston and Walton
- North
- Orton Waterville
- Park
- Stanground South
You can check if your property is in a proposed area with our online map.
How it works
All private landlords with residential property within the proposed area will need to apply for a licence for each property. In order to become a licence holder they must be a fit and proper person. This means a landlord has to meet a certain standard before they can legally rent out a property.
The proposed fees are as follows:
|
Application type |
Part A fee |
Part B fee |
Total fee |
|
Landlords accredited with an approved national body and who apply for a licence prior to the scheme start date or within 28 days of requiring a licence. |
£288 |
£220 |
£508 |
|
Non-accredited landlords, who apply prior to the scheme start date, or within 28 days of requiring a licence. |
£288 |
£320 |
£608 |
|
All late applications (28 days post scheme start date or after 28 days of requiring a licence). |
£538 |
£370 |
£908 |
A £40 "fit and proper person" discount will be applied to any subsequent applications for landlords who have multiple properties where a successful fit and proper person test has already been carried out on the manager and licence holder.