Southampton to introduce HMO licensing

Overview: New Additional HMO Licensing in Southampton

• Designation approved by Southampton City Council, and set to take effect from September 2025 for five years (Southampton City Council).
• Covers eight wards: Banister & Polygon, Bargate, Bassett, Bevois, Freemantle, Portswood, Shirley & Millbrook, and Swaythling (Southampton City Council).

Scope of the Scheme

• Applies to smaller HMOs with 3 or 4 occupants from two or more households, including shared houses—areas not previously covered under mandatory licensing (Southampton City Council).
• These properties must now obtain a licence under the new additional scheme.

Key Timelines & Requirements

• Effective date: From 1 October 2025 established on council website, though some sources cite a broader “September” start window (Southampton City Council,).
• Application window: Licensable property owners have 3 months from the start date to apply; applications submitted after that may incur higher fees and enforcement actions (Southampton City Council).

 Purpose & Expected Impact

• Designed to target areas with high HMO density and address concerns over property standards, management, fire safety, and anti-social behaviour (Southampton City Council).
• Previous licensing phases significantly reduced complaints—up to a 75% decline reported over 10 years in Southampton (Southampton City Council).
• The scheme is projected to bring 2,500–3,000 additional small HMOs under licence, increasing HMO coverage to approximately 5,000 out of the estimated 6,000–7,000 total in the city (Southampton City Council).

Compliance & Enforcement

• Licence duration: Typically valid for five years, but may be shorter if there are management or safety deficiencies (Southampton City Council).
• Landlords must ensure their properties meet Southampton-specific HMO standards covering fire safety, amenities, waste, and general management (Southampton City Council).
• Enforcement tools include wardens, inspections, fines, licence revocation, and rent repayment orders (RROs) for unlicensed HMOs with fines up to £20,000 in serious cases (Southampton City Council).

Checklist for Landlords / Agents

1. Check if property is in a designated ward (see list above).
2. Determine occupancy level – does it qualify (3–4 occupants, two or more households)?
3. Prepare licence application within 3 months of scheme start (likely October 2025).
4. Ensure compliance with HMO standards (fire risk assessments, safety certificates, management arrangements).
5. Consider independent HMO surveyor route for certificate of compliance and potentially lower fees (Southampton City Council, ).
6. Monitor updates on Southampton City Council website for exact implementation date and official guidance.

Final Summary

• Southampton is launching a new Additional HMO licensing scheme in September 2025, covering shared homes with 3–4 occupants in high-density wards.
• Property owners must apply within three months of the start date (likely October 2025).
• Compliance required with local standards and licence conditions—or face fines or RROs.