Preston City Council is considering introducing special licences for landlords in three wards known to have issues with poor-quality housing.
The authority has launched a consultation on proposals to introduce a Selective Licensing scheme which it hopes will improve standards in the City Centre, St Matthew’s and Plungington and is inviting responses from residents, landlords and community organisations.
Announcing the consultation, the council said its current enforcement approach is largely reactive and complaint-led, meaning action can only be taken once a problem has been reported. In contrast, Selective Licensing would allow it 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.
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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.
It would come with a fee of £1,050 for a licence lasting up to five years with part paid on application and the rest if approved and this is described as being on a cost-recovery basis only, meaning the council would not generate additional income through the licences.
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 consultation will run for a minimum of 10 weeks, from Monday 27 July until midnight on Sunday 11 October 2026.
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.”
The council also says that while 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, the full details and implementation timetable for the database are not yet clear so will taken into account when it considers 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 online and people can also email the consultation team on selectivelicensing@preston.gov.uk. Printed copies of the consultation documents can be requested by calling 0800 122 3945.
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.
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