Peterborough Licensing Scheme Renewal 2029: What Landlords Should Expect

Current Scheme Expiry Dates

Peterborough runs three property licensing schemes, and two of them have fixed end dates:

• Selective Licensing: 11 March 2024 to 10 March 2029 — covers designated areas in ten electoral wards
• Additional HMO Licensing: 26 January 2026 to 25 January 2031 — city-wide for smaller HMOs (three or four occupants)
• Mandatory HMO Licensing: no expiry — this is the national scheme for properties with five or more occupants, and individual licences run for five years from the date they are granted

The selective licensing scheme is the first to reach its end date. If the council does not renew or replace it, the scheme simply lapses on 10 March 2029 — just as the previous selective scheme (2016–2021) lapsed when it expired.

What Renewal Looks Like

Under the Housing Act 2004, local housing authorities cannot automatically extend a selective licensing scheme. They must go through the full statutory process again: evidence gathering, a formal public consultation, a Cabinet decision, and publication of a statutory designation notice.

Since 23 December 2024, when the Housing Act 2004 General Approval 2024 took effect, councils no longer need central government sign-off for selective licensing schemes — even those covering more than 20% of the area or housing stock. Peterborough can now designate a new scheme on its own authority after completing the consultation process.

Any replacement scheme would require a new designation following public consultation and publication of the required statutory notice. The council has not confirmed a renewal timetable here, so check Peterborough City Council's official updates for consultation dates and proposals.

What Changes for Landlords

If the scheme is renewed: Your current selective licence expires on 10 March 2029 regardless. You will need to apply for a new licence under the successor scheme, pay the full application fee, and submit fresh compliance documents. There is no automatic carry-over or reduced fee for existing licence holders. The new scheme may cover different wards, different fee levels, or different conditions.

If the scheme is not renewed: Selective licensing in the designated areas ends on 10 March 2029. Properties that only needed a selective licence (single-family lets or two-person shares) in those areas would no longer require any local licence — unless the council introduces a different designation. HMO licensing (additional and mandatory) is unaffected and continues independently.

If the scheme is expanded: The council could designate a new selective scheme covering more areas than the current scheme, or covering the entire city. The 2024 General Approval means central government sign-off is no longer needed. Landlords in newly designated areas would need to apply for the first time.

The Additional HMO Scheme Runs Until 2031

The additional HMO licensing scheme has a later expiry — 25 January 2031. When the selective scheme ends in 2029, the additional scheme continues unchanged. Properties with three or four unrelated occupants sharing facilities still need an additional HMO licence regardless of what happens with selective licensing.

When 2031 approaches, the same renewal process will apply — evidence, consultation, Cabinet decision, designation.

How to Prepare

There is nothing you need to do right now about the 2029 expiry. Your current licence remains valid until the scheme ends, and the council will announce any consultation well in advance.

What is worth doing now:

• Keep your compliance documents current — an up-to-date EICR, gas safety certificate, and fire risk assessment makes re-application straightforward
• Respond to the consultation when it opens — landlord responses shape the conditions, fees, and ward boundaries of the successor scheme
• Watch for the statutory designation notice — it will confirm the new scheme's start date, coverage area, and fee structure

Our Peterborough Landlord Licensing Guide covers all three current schemes and the application process for each — so when the renewal comes around, you will already understand the workflow and only need to check for changes in fees or conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my current selective licence transfer to the new scheme?

No. Your licence expires on the scheme's end date of 10 March 2029. If a new scheme is designated, you must submit a fresh application and pay the full fee.

Can the council change the selective licensing wards for the new scheme?

Yes. The evidence review may show that different wards now meet the statutory criteria. Wards can be added, removed, or have their boundaries adjusted. The consultation will propose the new coverage area.

Does the 2029 expiry affect my HMO licence?

No. The Additional HMO Licensing scheme runs until 25 January 2031, and the Mandatory HMO scheme has no expiry date. Only selective licences are affected by the 2029 end date.

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