Peterborough City Council has appointed Home Safe as its delivery partner for its new Additional Licensing scheme for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), following approval by Cabinet members on Thursday, 2 October. The scheme will launch in January 2026 and run for five years.

The council already operates the national Mandatory HMO licensing scheme, in place since 2006. The new Additional Licensing scheme will extend this to smaller shared houses with three or four occupants and to Section 257 HMOs where all self-contained flats are let to tenants.

Home Safe is well placed to deliver the new scheme, having been appointed as the council’s delivery partner for their Selective Licensing scheme, which was introduced in March 2024. Each month, around 350 property inspections are carried out by Home Safe, which has led to the identification and resolution of more than 17,000 safety hazards to date. This proactive approach to inspections and compliance management is making homes safer and living conditions better for tenants across the city. Over the course of the five-year scheme, every property is on track to receive two full inspections.

Building on that success, Home Safe will deliver the council’s Additional Licensing scheme, giving clear oversight of the city’s housing stock through dedicated online portals, compliance software and multiple inspections of every licensed property, ensuring safety issues are dealt with quickly by landlords and enforcement action is taken where required.

Councillor Christian Hogg, Peterborough City Council's Cabinet Member for Housing and Regulatory Services, said: “Peterborough City Council have worked effectively with Home Safe to raise standards in private rented properties as part of our Selective Licensing scheme for almost two years.

"We now want to continue this successful partnership and focus on improving conditions in HMOs through our Additional Licensing initiative, which we are confident will make a positive difference in our communities.”

Carl Agar, Chief Executive of Home Safe, added: “We are proud to be continuing our work with Peterborough City Council as they introduce Additional Licensing. The success of the Selective Licensing scheme is already showing the difference licensing can make in improving housing conditions, and this new scheme will help the council build on that progress to make more homes safe and well managed for tenants.”

The Additional Licensing scheme will come into effect in January 2026. Full details for landlords, including how and when to apply, will be published ahead of the launch. Landlords and managing agents are encouraged to stay informed by visiting the Peterborough City Council website.