South East
HMO licensing in Portsmouth
Portsmouth City Council requires a mandatory licence for HMOs occupied by 5 or more people from 2 or more households. It also runs additional licensing, which brings smaller HMOs (typically 3 or 4 people) into licensing. The published licence fee starts at £1,257 (£1,191 to renew).
Mandatory licence
5+ people, 2+ households
National scheme
Additional / selective
Additional
Council-designated schemes
Licence fee
From £1,257
Renewal £1,191
Decision time
Not published
Licensing schemes in Portsmouth
Portsmouth's additional HMO licensing scheme covers the whole city and all HMOs not already caught by mandatory licensing (including 3-4 person HMOs). It came into force on 1 September 2023 and ceases on 31 August 2028.
- In force from
- 1 September 2023
- Scheme ends
- 31 August 2028
Verified 24 September 2026
Licence fees
The published fee for a new HMO licence is £1,257, and £1,191 to renew. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.
Effective 1 April 2026, for a new 5-year licence on a property of up to 5 bedrooms: £314 (Part 1, application, non-refundable) + £943 (Part 2, due within 14 days of the notice to grant) = £1,257. Renewal (5-year): £206 + £985 = £1,191. The Part 2 fee rises with bedroom count above 5 -- (bedrooms - 5) x £60 added to the base Part 2 fee -- and shorter licence terms (1 or 2.5 years) carry a higher Part 2 fee than the 5-year term.
Fee source: portsmouth.gov.uk. Fees change during the year, so check the council before you apply.
Additional and selective licence fees
Fees for council-designated schemes are set separately from the mandatory HMO fee. Figures are the standard full-rate fee for a new licence, before any discounts.
Additional licence
£886
Ranges from £709 to £1,229
Renewal £845
New 5-year additional HMO licence, full fee in two parts: Stage 1 £222 (application, non-refundable) + Stage 2 £664 (licence issue, due within 14 days). The council's additional licensing fee table is not banded by bedroom count.
No discount published. Licence length depends on circumstances: a 5-year licence requires accreditation with a council-approved body plus other criteria; otherwise 2.5-year (£917 new) or 1-year (£1,229 new) licences are issued. Min/max span the published table (renewal 1-year £709 up to new 1-year £1,229). Renewal 5-year is £845; late renewals are charged as new applications.
Scheme: From 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2028
Checked 2 October 2026 against portsmouth.gov.uk
Documents you will need
- Gas safety certificate (CP12) — Within the last 12 months for every gas appliance on the property.
- EICR — Electrical Installation Condition Report, dated within the last five years.
- EPC — Valid Energy Performance Certificate for the property.
- Floor plan with room dimensions — To scale, showing every room and its floor area against the HMO minimums.
- Fire risk assessment — Current assessment of the property's means of escape, alarms and compartmentation.
Sources
Compiled from the council’s own published pages and documents; data reviewed September 2026. Rules and fees change, so always confirm with Portsmouth City Council before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.