South East
HMO licensing in Gosport
Gosport Borough Council requires a mandatory licence for HMOs occupied by 5 or more people from 2 or more households. No additional or selective licensing scheme is currently in force in Gosport (checked September 2026). The published licence fee starts at £1,050.
Mandatory licence
5+ people, 2+ households
National scheme
Additional / selective
None in force
Mandatory licensing only
Licence fee
From £1,050
Decision time
Not published
Licensing schemes in Gosport
Gosport Borough Council operates the national mandatory scheme. We found no additional or selective licensing scheme in force or proposed as of September 2026. Councils can introduce one after a public consultation, so it is worth setting an alert.
Licence fees
The published fee for a new HMO licence is £1,050. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.
Gosport charges a mandatory HMO licence fee split into a 'Fee on Application' and a 'Fee on Grant of Licence', banded by number of occupants, per the council's published Fees and Charges 2025 schedule. Bands: 5 persons £700.00 + £350.00 = £1,050.00 total; 6-10 persons £880.00 + £440.00 = £1,320.00 total; 11-15 persons £1,060.00 + £530.00 = £1,590.00 total; 16-20 persons £1,220.00 + £610.00 = £1,830.00 total; over 20 persons £1,400.00 + £700.00 = £2,100.00 total. No separate discounted renewal fee or accredited-landlord discount is listed in the fees schedule - the same banded fee structure applies to new applications (renewals are not broken out separately in this document). totalGbp below reflects the base (5-person) band, the minimum tier a mandatory HMO licence can fall into.
Check the current fee on the council website (gosport.gov.uk) before you apply.
Minimum room sizes
| Single bedroom | 6.51 m² minimum floor area (national HMO space standard). |
|---|---|
| Double bedroom | 10.22 m² minimum floor area (national HMO space standard). |
| Child under 10 | 4.64 m² minimum floor area (national HMO space standard). |
| notes | Gosport's published HMO application form and guidance do not itemise bespoke room-size figures; the council's application pack requires a floor plan showing 'the layout and position and size of each room' but does not publish its own minimum dimensions. Figures above are the national statutory minimums under the Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (Mandatory Conditions of Licences) (England) Regulations 2018, used here as a fallback, not a bespoke Gosport figure. |
National minimums for licensed HMOs are 6.51 m² for one adult and 10.22 m² for two adults; councils can apply higher local standards.
Fire safety requirements
- Applicants must confirm whether fire extinguishers, a protected escape route with fire doors, warning notices and fire blankets are provided, and must describe fire escape routes and any fire safety training given to tenants.
- A current Fire Risk Assessment must be submitted with the application.
- Where an Automatic Fire Detection (AFD) system or emergency lighting is installed, current test reports for each must be submitted.
- The council operates a joint protocol with Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service covering the fire-safety standards expected of licensed HMOs.
- Furniture and furnishings supplied must comply with the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 (as amended).
Kitchen, bathroom and amenity standards
- The HMO Management Regulations require an adequate number of bathrooms, toilets and wash-hand basins for the number of occupants, and a kitchen that is suitably located, laid out and sized to allow occupants sharing it to store, prepare and cook food.
- A current annual Gas Safety Record (Gas Safe) is required for all gas appliances and installations.
- A Periodic Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) dated within the last 5 years, and Portable Appliance Test (PAT) reports dated within the last year, are required.
- Council may seek DBS/police, fire authority and other checks on the applicant as part of the 'fit and proper person' assessment.
Documents you will need
- Floor plan — Detailing the layout, position and size of each room.
- Gas safety record — Current annual 'Gas Safe' Gas Safety Record for all gas appliances and installations.
- EICR — Periodic Electrical Installation Condition Report dated within the last 5 years.
- PAT test reports — Portable Electrical Appliance Test reports dated within the last year.
- AFD test report — Test report for the automatic fire detection system, if fitted (state 'no AFD' if not applicable).
- Emergency lighting test report — If emergency lighting is installed (state 'no emergency lighting' if not applicable).
- Building regulations compliance certificate — Required if the property has been subject to relevant building works.
- Fire risk assessment — Current Fire Risk Assessment for the property.
- Tenancy agreement example — A sample of the tenancy agreement provided to tenants, if used.
- Landlord insurance confirmation — Confirmation that appropriate landlords' HMO and buildings insurance is in place.
Sources
Compiled from the council’s own published pages and documents; data reviewed September 2026. Rules and fees change, so always confirm with Gosport Borough Council before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.