Consultation launched on plans for new housing licencing scheme in Preston

Residents, landlords and community organisations are invited to have their say on proposals to introduce a Selective Licensing scheme across three Preston wards.

Preston City Council has launched a public consultation on proposals to introduce a Selective Licensing scheme in the City Centre, St Matthew's and Plungington wards. The consultation will run for a minimum of 10 weeks, from Monday 27 July until midnight on Sunday 1 October 2026. 

Selective Licensing is a power available to local authorities under Part 3 of the Housing Act 2004. If introduced, the scheme would require all private landlords in the three designated wards to obtain a licence and comply with conditions relating to the condition and management of their properties. 

The proposals follow evidence gathered by the Council showing that private rented homes in these three wards are more likely to experience poor property conditions, including damp and mould, excess cold, disrepair and other hazards, and that these issues are concentrated in areas with high levels of deprivation.

Stock condition modelling by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) estimated that around 16% of privately rented properties in Preston contain Category 1 hazards, the most serious risks to health and safety under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System. 

The Council's current enforcement approach is largely reactive and complaint-led, meaning action can only be taken once a problem has been reported. Selective Licensing would allow the Council to take a more proactive approach, requiring landlords to demonstrate compliance before problems arise and improving the Council's understanding of privately rented homes across the designated areas. 

Councillor Zafar Coupland, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing at Preston City Council, said: "Everyone deserves to live in a safe, warm and well-managed home, and we are committed to ensuring that residents across Preston have access to good-quality private rented accommodation.

‘’The proposal to introduce Selective Licensing in the City Centre, St Matthew’s and Plungington wards is based on detailed evidence showing higher levels of poor housing conditions and housing-related issues in these areas than elsewhere in the city.

‘’By focusing our efforts where the need is greatest, we can take a targeted approach to improving standards and supporting healthier, stronger communities. 

"I want to reassure responsible landlords that this scheme is not designed to penalise those who already provide safe, well-managed homes and work positively with their tenants. In fact, responsible landlords stand to benefit from a level playing field that helps tackle poor practice where it exists. We are keen to hear from tenants as part of this consultation, as their experiences will be invaluable in helping us understand the challenges within the sector and ensuring any future scheme is shaped by the people most directly affected by the quality and management of privately rented homes." 

If the scheme is approved following consultation, landlords in the designated wards would need to apply for a licence and meet enforceable conditions covering property safety, repairs and maintenance, waste management and tenancy management. Operating a licensable property without a licence is a criminal offence. 

The proposed licence fee is £1,050 for a licence lasting up to five years, split into Part A (£470) payable on application and Part B (£580) payable once the Council is minded to grant the licence. Fees will be set on a cost-recovery basis only. No discounts are proposed, and payment by direct debit or instalments is not proposed. The consultation asks for views on whether the fee and payment arrangements are reasonable. 

The Council is aware that some landlords may be concerned about potential overlap between the proposed Selective Licensing scheme and the national Private Rented Sector Database planned under the Renters’ Rights Act.

As the Government has yet to confirm the full details and implementation timetable for the database, the Council will take these developments into account when considering the outcomes of the consultation. Landlords are encouraged to take part and share their views to help shape any future scheme and ensure it supports efforts to improve housing standards while avoiding unnecessary burdens on responsible landlords. 

Full details of the proposals, including the consultation evidence pack and draft licence conditions, are available at:  https://www.preston.gov.uk/selective-licensing-consultation 

The Council will be holding a number of public information events and forums during the consultation period (no appointment needed). 

• City Centre - Tuesday 15 September, Room A, Preston Town Hall, Lancaster Road, Preston, PR1 2RL.   10 am to 4 pm. 

• Plungington - Monday 14 September, Main Hall, Plungington Community Centre,  Brook Street, Preston, PR1 7NB.  12 pm to 5 pm. 

• St Matthews - Thursday 17 September, Catherine Beckett Centre, 112 Deepdale Rd, Preston, PR1 5AR.  10 am to 4 pm. 

The consultation closes at midnight on Sunday 11 October 2026.