HMO licensing in Portsmouth: fees and additional licensing
Written by Sam Allcock · Last updated 23 August 2026 · Facts checked against Portsmouth City Council's own published pages on the date above
A mandatory HMO licence in Portsmouth is charged in two non-refundable parts: a £314 application fee for new applications (£206 for renewals), plus an issue fee that starts at £943 for properties with 5 bedrooms or fewer and rises with bedroom count and licence length (Portsmouth City Council, checked 23 August 2026).
Portsmouth also runs a separate additional HMO licensing scheme, with a recent fee increase of around 11% reported against 2023 rates across both mandatory and additional licensing.
Short on time?Let us prepare your Portsmouth HMO application - fixed fee, and we always show you the free official route first.
Get it done for you →This page sets out Portsmouth's own published fees - for the wider system, see our HMO & landlord licensing hub, and for who needs a licence nationally, see do I need an HMO licence?
This is general information sourced from Portsmouth City Council's own website, not legal advice - always confirm current fees with the council directly before you apply.
What's different about HMO licensing in Portsmouth?
Portsmouth prices its mandatory HMO issue fee by bedroom count and licence length together, rather than a flat rate - so a larger HMO on a longer licence term costs meaningfully more than a smaller HMO on a shorter one (Portsmouth City Council, checked 23 August 2026).
Portsmouth also runs a separate additional HMO licensing scheme alongside mandatory licensing, and both saw a reported fee increase of around 11% compared with 2023 rates.
What does an HMO licence cost in Portsmouth?
Portsmouth's mandatory HMO fee has two parts: a non-refundable application fee, and a non-refundable issue fee that varies by bedroom count (Portsmouth City Council, checked 23 August 2026).
Above 8 bedrooms: (bedrooms − 5) × £60 plus the base fee. Part 2 is due within 14 days of the Notice of Intention to Grant. Read Portsmouth City Council's mandatory licensing fees page →
✓ Checked against Portsmouth City Council, 23 August 2026
Does Portsmouth run additional or selective licensing?
| Scheme | Status in Portsmouth |
|---|---|
| Mandatory HMO licensing | Citywide, applies to every large HMO (5+ occupants, 2+ households) |
| Additional licensing | In force in Portsmouth with its own published fees page - confirm exact current figures with the council |
| Selective licensing | Not the focus of this research pass - confirm current position with the council |
Because Portsmouth runs additional licensing alongside mandatory licensing, check both pages if your HMO is smaller than the 5-occupant mandatory threshold.
How do you apply for an HMO licence in Portsmouth?
You apply through Portsmouth City Council's own website, with fees paid in two non-refundable stages (Portsmouth City Council, checked 23 August 2026).
- Check your occupant numbers and bedroom count against Portsmouth's mandatory and additional licensing rules.
- Gather your property details - room sizes, occupant and household numbers, gas and electrical safety certificates.
- Apply online and pay the application fee - £314 new or £206 renewal.
- Wait for the council's Notice of Intention to Grant, then pay the issue fee within 14 days.
- Receive your licence for your chosen term.
How long does a Portsmouth HMO licence take?
Portsmouth City Council's pages reviewed for this guide didn't set out a fixed processing timescale (checked 23 August 2026), though the issue fee varies by licence length, implying more than one duration option is available - confirm current turnaround with the council's HMO licensing team at hmo.licensing@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or 023 9284 1659.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mandatory HMO licence cost in Portsmouth?
£314 (new) or £206 (renewal) application fee, plus an issue fee from £943 for 5 bedrooms or fewer, rising with bedroom count and licence length.
Does Portsmouth also run additional licensing?
Yes - Portsmouth has a separate additional HMO licensing scheme with its own fees page; confirm exact current figures directly with the council.
When is the Part 2 issue fee due in Portsmouth?
Within 14 days of receiving the council's Notice of Intention to Grant a Licence, and it's non-refundable once paid, even if the licence is later revoked.
Where do I apply for a Portsmouth HMO licence?
Directly through Portsmouth City Council's own website - contact the HMO licensing team on hmo.licensing@portsmouthcc.gov.uk if you have questions.
apply for licence is an independent guide and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Portsmouth City Council, GOV.UK or any government body. This page is general information, not legal advice - for anything specific to your property, contact Portsmouth City Council's HMO licensing team directly.