Selective Licensing
Protection for citizens renting privately in the cityTHE CHALLENGE
Peterborough is ranked 4th in the UK for housing stock growth, but demand for social housing is still high and the private rented sector is the only housing option to some of the most vulnerable people in the city.
Peterborough wants to ensure that those individuals live in safe, warm and comfortable homes, protected from anti-social behaviour.
In 2004, The Housing Act introduced licensing for all privately rented properties in designated areas. Peterborough is introducing this scheme to make private landlords more accountable and more professional.
THE SOLUTION
Approval from the Secretary of State was required to implement selective licensing, meaning one or more of the following criteria needed to be met:
- Low housing demand — Poor property condition
- A significant and persistent problem caused by anti-social behaviour
- High levels of migration — High levels of deprivation
- High levels of crime
The Peterborough “Knowledge Hub” mapped geographical areas across the city against this criteria, in order to provide a robust evidence base for the initial delivery stages, and a baseline for the daily administration of the scheme which is currently being implemented.