Constituent Action Guide
I know many of you have contacted me about an issue with a local HMO, whether that is a new HMO proposal, a suspected unauthorised conversion, overcrowding, maintenance, or unsafe conditions.
I have put together a guide of useful resources to help constituents raise their concerns with the Council. See points 1-3 for licensing, conditions, and maintenance. See points 4-5 for planning issues e.g. unauthorised conversions and new HMOs.
1. Reporting an Unlicensed HMO
If you believe a property is operating as an HMO without a proper license, please contact the Private Sector Housing team: ✉️ psh@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
📌 Please use the subject header: “HMO Issue”
2. Understanding HMO Licensing Rules
If you suspect a HMO is breaking licensing rules, or to help you determine whether a landlord is complying with the necessary licensing and standards, the following may be helpful:
- 📄 HMO Standards Guidance Document (PDF) This document includes guidance on bins, space requirements, facilities, fire safety, and more.
- The Council has a page on their website breaking down the guidance: HMO standards – information for private tenants – Portsmouth City Council
3. Reporting an HMO-Related Issue Online
To report an HMO-related issue (e.g. maintenance concerns, overcrowding, property conditions), you can use the Council’s online reporting portal:
🔗 Report an HMO Issue
Dangerous skips, pavements and forecourts are dealt with by the Highways Dept. Tel: 023 9283 4092 Mon – Fri 9am to 5pm.
Or email cityhelpdesk@portsmouthcc.gov.uk Highways (colas) Emergency our of hours Tel: 023 9231 0900
Anti-social behaviour Tel: 023 9268 8507 or email cityhelpdesk@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
Portsmouth City Council central switchboard Tel: 023 9282 2251 if you do not wish your telephone to be registered enter 141 before dialling any number.
4. Reporting Planning Issues (e.g. unauthorised conversions)
If a property has been converted into an HMO without planning permission, or if structural changes (such as adding bedrooms) have been made without approval, please contact Planning Enforcement:
✉️ planningenforcement@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
📌 Please use the subject header: “HMO Issue”
5. Party walls and understanding your rights
A party wall is a shared wall between two or more properties, often separating buildings belonging to different owners. These walls can be on the boundary line, or on one owner’s land but still used to separate buildings. The Party Wall Act regulates works affecting these walls. If a HMO has plans to make changes to these walls or install things onto them (e.g new plumbing, macerating toilets etc) then they should be sending out ‘Party Structure Notices’.
You can find out more here:
🔗 Government Party Wall Information
🔗 Preventing and resolving disputes in relation to party walls
6. Opposing a planning application for a new HMO
To oppose a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) planning application with Portsmouth City Council, you’ll need to follow a few key steps. Here’s a simple guide:
✅ 1. Find the Planning Application. You need to locate the application you want to oppose by visiting https://publicaccess.portsmouth.gov.uk/online-applications/. Use the search function to find the application by:
- Address
- Application number (if known)
- Keyword or postcode
📄 2. Review the Application Details. Once you’ve found the planning application, check what is being proposed (e.g., conversion to a 6-bed HMO), and review associated documents such as site plans, floorplans, and planning statements.
✍🏻 3. Submit Your Objection (Public Comment) via the same portal. Click the “Make a Comment” or “Comments” tab on the application page, fill in your details to create an account, and clearly state that you object to the application.
Provide your reasons for objecting. Some valid planning concerns include:
- Overconcentration of HMOs in the area
- Parking/traffic problems
- Noise and anti-social behaviour
- Waste management issues
- Loss of family housing
- Negative impact on community character or local amenity
When you press submit it may say you have run out of time. Come right out, go back in putting in your password in again, and your comment should have been saved. Then submit your comment again.
⏰ There is a deadline, usually around 21 days from the application’s validation or notice date. Make sure to submit within that period.
✉️ Optional: Send a Written Objection, either via post or via email to:
Email: planningreps@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
Post: Portsmouth City Council, Civic Offices, Guildhall Square, Portsmouth, PO1 2AL
7. And finally… Work with others!
Contact your local councillors, neighbours and other local residents so that together you can raise as much awareness as possible. Councillors can also ‘call in’ the application, this will ensure that the planning proposal goes before the planning committee for discussion, otherwise six objections from different addresses are required to do this.
If the proposal is bought before the planning committee you can give an objection talk, a deputation, this is up to 6 minutes long depending on how many other objectors wish to speak. Or you can request that your local councillor gives a deputation on your behalf.
I hope this information is helpful. If you need any further assistance or would like to discuss a specific HMO, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Report a HMO to me
Do you believe there’s HMO next door to you or down your road that isn’t listed on the council website? Pop the details here and I’ll investigate for you:
