Peterborough HMO Safety Certificates: EICR, Gas, PAT and Fire Risk Assessment

Every Licence Application Needs Supporting Documents

Peterborough City Council requires specific safety certificates before it will process any property licence application — selective, additional HMO, or mandatory HMO. If your documents are missing, expired, or non-compliant, the Home Safe portal will reject your submission, and you risk forfeiting the Part A application fee if you cannot produce them within the 28-day application window.

Here is exactly what you need for each document type, with the standards the council expects.

Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)

Every licence application requires a valid EICR. The inspection and test must be carried out by a qualified and competent person, and the report must show an overall Satisfactory rating.

The EICR is valid for five years. If the report flags C1 (danger present) or C2 (potentially dangerous) defects, you must have the remedial work completed and documented before submitting the application. Upload both the original EICR and the remedial works certificate showing the defects have been resolved.

The EICR must cover the electrical installation relevant to the licence application. A report for a different property is not sufficient.

Gas Safety Certificate (CP12)

If the property has a gas supply, a current Gas Safety Certificate is mandatory. This must be issued annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer and must cover every gas appliance in the property, including boilers, fires, cookers, and gas meters.

For an HMO with gas appliances, the certificate must cover the landlord's gas appliances in the property, including boilers, fires, and cookers. If individual rooms have their own gas appliances, those need to be included.

If the property has no gas supply at all — fully electric heating and cooking — you do not need a Gas Safety Certificate, but you should state this clearly in the application to avoid processing delays.

Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

A valid EPC is required for all licence types. The property must achieve at least an E rating to be legally let, unless you have registered a valid PRS exemption on the national PRS Exemptions Register.

EPCs are valid for ten years from issue. Check the expiry date before starting your application — an expired EPC means the application cannot proceed.

Portable Appliance Testing (PAT)

PAT testing is required for all landlord-supplied electrical portable appliances that are over one year old. This applies to HMO licences under the Additional and Mandatory schemes.

Landlord-supplied items typically include kettles, toasters, microwaves, desk lamps, vacuum cleaners, and other plug-in appliances you provide. The PAT requirement applies to landlord-supplied appliances over one year old; tenant-owned appliances are not covered by this landlord-supplied appliance requirement.

For selective licences, PAT testing is required for landlord-supplied portable electrical appliances over one year old.

Fire Risk Assessment (FRA)

For Additional and Mandatory HMO licences, a fire risk assessment is mandatory. The FRA must comply with LACORS Fire Safety Guidance and cover the whole property — escape routes, communal areas, fire detection systems, fire doors, and emergency lighting.

For selective licences, an FRA is mandatory only for multi-let units (properties where common areas are shared). A standard single-family let under the selective scheme does not typically need one, unless the property has been subdivided.

The FRA should be carried out by a competent person — ideally someone with a NEBOSH or FPA fire safety qualification. The council will check that the FRA is up to date and that any actions identified in it have been addressed.

Fire Alarm and Emergency Lighting Certificates

If your property has a mains-powered interlinked fire alarm system (Grade D1/D2 LD2) or emergency lighting, you need current commissioning or maintenance certificates. These are mandatory for HMO properties and must show the systems are in working order.

Small HMOs typically need mains-powered interlinked smoke alarms on every storey used for living accommodation, plus carbon monoxide detectors in every room with a gas appliance or solid-fuel burner. If escape routes are complex or lack natural light, emergency lighting is also required.

Proof of Ownership

All licence types require proof that you own the property (or have the legal authority to manage it). Acceptable documents include a Land Registry Title Register extract, a TR1/TP1 transfer deed, a formal solicitor ownership confirmation letter, or a mortgage statement dated within three months.

Putting It All Together

Before you open the Home Safe portal, gather every document in advance. An application that stalls because one certificate is missing or expired can lapse if you cannot fix the gap within 28 days — and the Part A fee is non-refundable.

Our Peterborough Landlord Licensing Guide includes a document readiness checklist that walks through every certificate in order, with the standards each must meet and common rejection reasons — designed to ensure everything is in place before you start the application.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often does an EICR need to be renewed for a Peterborough licence?

Every five years. The EICR must show a Satisfactory rating at the time of your licence application. If it flags C1 or C2 defects, those must be remediated and documented before you submit.

Do I need a fire risk assessment for a selective licence?

Only if the property is a multi-let unit with shared common areas. A standard single-family home under the selective scheme does not typically require one, but HMO properties always do.

What if my property has no gas supply?

You do not need a Gas Safety Certificate, but you should note this clearly in your application so the council does not hold it up waiting for a CP12 you cannot provide.

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