A new licensing scheme in Peterborough has attracted over 7,000 applications from landlords since March – and a property inspection programme is set to begin next month.

Peterborough City Council launched its Selective Licensing initiative which requires landlords in designated areas of the city to apply for a five-year licence to prove their accommodation meets certain standards.

During the consultation period and subsequent landlord forums, concerns were raised around the complexity of the application process. In response, the council introduced what it calls ”a straightforward online application and licence management portal “to make the process easier for landlords to comply.

To date, 1,759 draft licences and over 500 final licences have been issued, with all draft licences for valid applications expected to be completed by October. Final licences are anticipated to be fully issued by the end of November. 

A spokesperson for Peterborough council says: “We’re delighted with the initial response to Selective Licensing, which shows that the vast majority of landlords in the designated areas are committed to providing good quality housing for their tenants. We would encourage anyone who hasn’t yet applied for the scheme to get in touch with us as soon as possible.

“As a council, we are fully committed to working with partners and landlords to improve accommodation standards across the city. This ties in with our key priority of creating strong and sustainable communities, which is vitally important for the wellbeing of Peterborough residents.”

As part of the scheme, a property inspection programme will get underway in September and forums will be set up for landlords explaining how this will work. The council will be hosting three forums on 30 August to provide details of the inspection programme and exactly what to expect.

It is an offence for a landlord to rent a property in a designated area without applying for a Selective Licence. Landlords with unlicensed rented properties can face a financial penalty of up to £30,000 or an unlimited fine from a court. Landlords could also be ordered to repay up to 12 months’ rent. This will be a huge focus for the council in the coming months with prosecution cases already under consideration.