Last month it was revealed that Coventry City Council was stepping up the hunt for unlicensed HMOs, following complaints from residents about problem behaviour in poorly maintained HMOs. It pledged to better use local intelligence, as well as asking councillors to report those who might be operating outside the licensing system.
It’s far from an isolated incident. Councils across the UK are stepping up their monitoring of HMOs, particularly as new licensing schemes are introduced, to ensure that licences aren’t being evaded and that all rental properties in their local areas meet the highest standards.
And naturally Peterborough is among those.
Peterborough’s licensing schemes
In fact, our area boasts three HMO licensing schemes, showing just how serious Peterborough City Council is about ensuring top-quality HMO provision.
The most recent of these came into force on 26 January 2026 with the Additional HMO Licensing scheme now applying to HMOs occupied by three or four unrelated people sharing facilities, as well as some qualifying Section 257 HMOs in the city. It covers around 2,000 properties in total. Peterborough is one of 11 councils to have already introduced Additional HMO Licensing schemes in the last year alone and more are in consultation or development.
In addition, the traditional HMO licence applies for larger HMOs of five or more persons who form two or more households in Peterborough, while Selective Licensing is also in operation until 10 March 2029 within specific areas of the city.
The cost of non-compliance
The scale of penalties facing landlords who don’t comply shows just how serious councils such as Peterborough are about tackling unlicensed HMO properties. Landlords could face civil penalties of up to £40,000 or unlimited court fines and be required to pay up to two years of rent in rent repayment orders. Also at risk is a landlord’s fit-and-proper status – which is needed for future licence applications.
In addition to the council stepping up enforcement of licensing, the public are also encouraged to report any instances of non-compliance that they know of via Peterborough City Council’s Additional Licence webpage, with the option for anonymity if required.
Why HMO licensing is important
This can feel like victimisation for landlords whose properties are already of a high standard, and it can be frustrating to have to find the extra money for the licensing fees, especially if your HMO hasn’t been subject to licensing conditions before January. The latest Additional Licensing fee, for example, is £1,100 in Peterborough, although the licence is valid for five years. The money is used to manage the licensing system, including the fire, safety and housing checks that are such a crucial element.
But it’s these checks that help to ensure better HMO standards, since they are a few of the numerous conditions that landlords must meet to let a property as an HMO. These aim to ensure better-managed properties, reduced anti-social behaviour and improved living conditions for tenants. And that helps attract even more HMO tenants to the area and, hopefully, to your property.
We Can Help
At Progressive Lets, we are experts in the rental market in the Peterborough area and help landlords find and manage properties within a 50-mile radius. We are also an HMO specialist. Get in touch to find out more.
