East of England
HMO licensing in Peterborough
Peterborough City Council requires a mandatory licence for HMOs occupied by 5 or more people from 2 or more households. It also runs additional licensing (bringing smaller HMOs into licensing) and selective licensing (covering other privately rented homes in designated areas). The published licence fee starts at £1,100.
Mandatory licence
5+ people, 2+ households
National scheme
Additional / selective
Additional + Selective
Council-designated schemes
Licence fee
From £1,100
Decision time
Not published
Licensing schemes in Peterborough
Peterborough's selective licensing scheme covers all privately rented homes in ten wards (Bretton, Central, East, Fletton and Stanground, Fletton and Woodston, North, Orton Waterville, Park, Paston and Walton, Stanground South) from 11 March 2024 to 10 March 2029. A separate city-wide additional HMO licensing scheme (3-4 person HMOs) runs 26 January 2026 to 25 January 2031.
- In force from
- 11 March 2024
- Scheme ends
- 10 March 2029
Verified 24 September 2026
Licence fees
The published fee for a new HMO licence is £1,100. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.
Fee shown is for the mandatory HMO licence (properties with 5+ occupants forming 2+ households), payable to Peterborough City Council via its Home Safe administered portal. The total of £1,100 is split into Part A (£367, application processing, non-refundable) and Part B (£733, compliance actions, refunded only if the application is rejected). There is no provision to pay by instalments. The licence runs for five years from the date the fee is paid. Peterborough also runs two separate area/property-based schemes with their own fees: Additional Licensing (HMOs with 3-4 occupants, citywide, 26 January 2026 to 25 January 2031) costs £1,100 total (Part A £588 / Part B £512) for a five-year licence; Selective Licensing (any privately rented property in 10 designated wards, 11 March 2024 to 10 March 2029) costs £908 total (Part A £538 / Part B £370) for a five-year licence.
Check the current fee on the council website (peterborough.gov.uk) before you apply.
Additional and selective licence fees
Fees for council-designated schemes are set separately from the mandatory HMO fee. Figures are the standard full-rate fee for a new licence, before any discounts.
Additional licence
£1,100
Additional HMO licence (HMOs with 3-4 occupants, citywide), full fee for a licence running to the end of the scheme: Part A £588 (application processing) + Part B £512 (compliance actions)
No discounts published on the council page.
Scheme: From 26 January 2026 to 25 January 2031
Checked 2 October 2026 against peterborough.gov.uk
Selective licence
£908
Selective licence for a single privately rented property in the designated wards, full fee: Part A £538 (application processing) + Part B £370 (compliance actions). Fee is the same regardless of how much of the five-year scheme remains.
No discounts published on the council page.
Scheme: From 11 March 2024 to 10 March 2029
Checked 2 October 2026 against peterborough.gov.uk
Minimum room sizes
| Double bedroom (2 occupants, 10+ years) | 10.22 m² minimum floor area. |
|---|---|
| Single bedroom (1 occupant, 10+ years) | 6.51 m² minimum floor area. |
| Child's bedroom (under 10 years) | 4.64 m² minimum floor area; rooms under 4.64 m² cannot be used as sleeping accommodation at all. |
| Notes | En-suite bathroom areas and any part of a room with a ceiling height below 1.5 m do not count toward floor area. These are the national HMO space standards as published on Peterborough City Council's Additional HMO Licensing guidance (administered via the Home Safe scheme). |
National minimums for licensed HMOs are 6.51 m² for one adult and 10.22 m² for two adults; councils can apply higher local standards.
Fire safety requirements
- Current Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) carried out by a competent person, submitted with the application.
- Fire alarm system test certificate, where a fire alarm system is installed.
- Emergency lighting test certificate, where emergency lighting is installed.
- Fire extinguisher service record, where extinguishers are provided.
- Smoke detectors and heat detectors installed with locations documented.
- Carbon monoxide detectors installed with locations documented.
Kitchen, bathroom and amenity standards
- Gas Safety Certificate (CP12) for all gas appliances, where applicable.
- Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) for the fixed electrical installation.
- Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) records for any appliances provided by the landlord.
- Valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).
- Property must be reasonably suitable for the number of occupants applied for.
Documents you will need
- Gas safety certificate (CP12) — Required where the property has gas appliances; must be current.
- EICR — Electrical Installation Condition Report for the fixed electrical installation.
- EPC — Valid Energy Performance Certificate for the property.
- PAT testing records — Portable Appliance Test records for landlord-supplied electrical appliances.
- Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) — Carried out by a competent person; copy submitted with the application.
- Fire safety equipment certificates — Fire alarm test certificate, emergency lighting test certificate and fire extinguisher service record, where those systems are installed.
- HMO floor plan — Scaled floor plan showing room uses and dimensions.
- Proof of ownership / mortgage details — Mortgage provider details or other proof of ownership.
- Managing agent contract — Copy of the management contract, if the property is managed by an agent.
- Fit & Proper Person declaration — Signed statement for the licence holder and manager.
- Photo ID — Passport or driving licence for the licence holder.
- Proof of address — For the licence holder and, if applicable, the property manager.
Sources
Compiled from the council’s own published pages and documents; data reviewed September 2026. Rules and fees change, so always confirm with Peterborough City Council before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.