South East
We currently show scheme records, official links, and supporting research for this council.
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This page includes the scheme records we currently hold, but council policies and boundaries can change. Treat it as a researched starting point and verify the latest position on the official council pages before acting.
Based on publicly available information, we show the licensing status we currently hold for Southampton City Council, highlight mandatory HMO rules, and link you to official council sources for verification where we currently have them.
Confirm the current scheme boundary, licence fee, exemptions, application route, and any recent policy changes on the council website before making decisions.
Our current data is based on publicly available information. Always verify the latest licensing position, scheme boundaries, fees, and exemptions with Southampton City Council.
We research council licensing information from public sources and present it as general guidance. We do not replace the council's own licensing pages or legal advice.
Council updates
We will email you if Southampton City Council introduces, renews, or changes a licensing scheme. Free, occasional updates only. Always verify final requirements on the council website.
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This page may already answer a lot of the question. Use the paid products only if you want a quicker written summary, a more risk-focused view, or ongoing monitoring.
Property Licensing Check
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A concise written review for one property, postcode, or council situation based on current public council-source information.
Best for: Best for landlords, agents, and buyers who want written clarity quickly on one case.
Delivery: Concise report by email, usually within 2 working days
Licensing Due Diligence Report
Coming soon
A more tailored, more decision-oriented, and more risk-focused review for higher-stakes property decisions.
Best for: Best for buyers, investors, agents, landlords refinancing, and conveyancers handling material decisions.
Delivery: Analyst-reviewed report with stronger risk framing
Alerts and monitoring
Coming soon
A lighter monitoring tier for selected councils or areas, aimed at landlords and smaller investors who want ongoing updates.
Best for: Best for landlords and smaller investors who want ongoing updates without building their own tracking process.
Delivery: Monthly monitoring and change alerts
These options are designed to save research time, improve clarity, and support decision-making. Final reliance should still be tied back to the relevant council and, where necessary, professional advice.
Enter a postcode to see whether it appears to fall within a licensing scheme area, then verify the result with the council.
Additional HMO licensing scheme requiring all smaller HMOs (3 or 4 occupants from 2 or more households) and HMOs within purpose-built accommodation blocks in 9 designated wards to be licensed. 86% of all known HMOs in Southampton are found in these wards. Approximately 2,500-3,000 smaller HMOs and purpose-built student accommodation HMOs are affected.
Approved by Southampton City Council Cabinet circa July 2025, following public consultation (December 2024 - 26 February 2025) which received 192 responses with 86% in favour and 84% approval of the designated wards. The scheme fills a gap since the previous additional licensing scheme expired 30 September 2023. Minimum room size requirements: single occupancy 6.51 m², double occupancy 10.22 m². Properties must not be listed on any local or national register of licensed properties when the application is made. Property types covered: Smaller HMOs occupied by 3 or 4 persons from 2 or more households sharing toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities; HMOs within purpose-built accommodation blocks in designated wards. Section 257 HMOs (purpose-built blocks converted to flats) are NOT included.. Exemptions or exclusions: Properties already subject to mandatory HMO licensing (5+ occupants). Section 257 converted-flat blocks are excluded. Properties outside the 9 designated wards..
Our current data shows this scheme based on public information. Always verify the latest fees, dates, and boundary wording on the official council page.
Applies to all large Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) across the entire Southampton City Council area. The 2018 regulations removed the three-storey requirement.
Mandatory under Housing Act 2004 Part 2. Extended to all storeys from 1 October 2018. Fees must be paid in full with the licence application. Council is not permitted to make financial gain from licensing fees; fees cover administration costs only. Property types covered: Properties occupied by 5 or more persons from 2 or more households sharing toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities.
Our current data shows this scheme based on public information. Always verify the latest fees, dates, and boundary wording on the official council page.
Southampton City Council has no active selective licensing scheme. The council has acknowledged selective licensing as a useful tool but states it lacks the required evidence base (e.g. low housing demand, significant anti-social behaviour, poor conditions data). A city-wide stock condition survey is programmed for 2025/26, after which selective licensing may be reconsidered.
A 2023/24 Council Scrutiny inquiry ('How do we get a better deal for private renters in Southampton') recommended exploring selective licensing. The council's response was that selective licensing requires legal evidence thresholds and will not be pursued until the city-wide stock condition survey is completed. No timeline given for when selective licensing might be introduced.
Our current data shows this scheme based on public information. Always verify the latest fees, dates, and boundary wording on the official council page.
Second additional HMO licensing scheme covering Shirley, Freemantle, Millbrook, and Bassett wards.
Second in a series of additional HMO licensing schemes. Approximate dates based on reference to 2015 introduction and 5-year maximum duration. Exact start/end dates not confirmed. Property types covered: Smaller HMOs with 3 or 4 occupants from 2 or more households. Exemptions or exclusions: Properties covered by mandatory HMO licensing.
Our current data shows this scheme based on public information. Always verify the latest fees, dates, and boundary wording on the official council page.
Previous additional HMO licensing scheme covering Bevois, Bargate, Portswood, and Swaythling wards. Covered smaller HMOs with 3 or 4 occupants, and also purpose-built flats with 5+ occupants in blocks of 3 or more self-contained flats.
Approved 17 July 2018 by Southampton City Council. Third in a series of additional HMO licensing schemes since 2013. Resulted in over 3,000 smaller HMOs being licensed during its lifetime. Expired 30 September 2023 and was not renewed immediately; a gap in licensing existed from October 2023 to September 2025. Property types covered: HMOs with 3 or 4 occupants from 2 or more households; purpose-built flat blocks with 5 or more occupants in blocks of 3 or more self-contained flats. Exemptions or exclusions: Properties covered by mandatory HMO licensing.
Our current data shows this scheme based on public information. Always verify the latest fees, dates, and boundary wording on the official council page.
These public research signals help show how recently this page was reviewed and what still needs checking before you rely on it.
Last reviewed
27 March 2026
Research confidence
High (75/100)
Sources checked
13
Southampton City Council's website blocks direct fetching (Incapsula security), meaning most official pages could not be read directly. Key scheme facts (additional HMO 2025-2030, wards, fees £953/£1,618, start/end dates, consultation details) are well-corroborated across multiple third-party sources and confirmed as matching what the council's website states via search engine snippets. The mandatory HMO fee range (£319-£1,211) comes only from a third-party source; the fee structure (two-stage, lower rate for independent surveyor) is confirmed by official sources. The previous expired schemes' history is well-documented across multiple sources. The selective licensing status (none active) is clearly confirmed. The public register PDF URL was found directly via search results.
Southampton publishes a public register of all fully licensed HMOs as a downloadable PDF. The most recent version located is dated 19 January 2026. The council has a statutory duty under the Housing Act 2004 to maintain a public register. The register PDF URL pattern suggests it is periodically updated (file name includes date). The register does not appear to be available as a searchable online database; full details of licence holders beyond what is in the PDF can be requested via the council's housing team at hmo@southampton.gov.uk. Historic FOI requests indicate owner/landlord names and contact details for licence holders are available on request. The register URL from data.gov.uk (dataset e8671ca8-b28a-4c12-8faa-2308b00c71b4) links to a PDF hosted on southampton.gov.uk.
Supporting sources
All councils in England must operate mandatory HMO licensing. This applies to properties with 5 or more occupants forming 2 or more separate households, regardless of location. If your property meets these criteria, you must apply for a mandatory HMO licence from Southampton City Council.
Applies to all large Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) across the entire Southampton City Council area. The 2018 regulations removed the three-storey requirement.
Mandatory under Housing Act 2004 Part 2. Extended to all storeys from 1 October 2018. Fees must be paid in full with the licence application. Council is not permitted to make financial gain from licensing fees; fees cover administration costs only. Property types covered: Properties occupied by 5 or more persons from 2 or more households sharing toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities.
In addition to licensing, all private landlords in England must comply with these requirements:
Use these routes to move from the Southampton City Council summary into the most relevant next action for your property, role, or research task.
Landlord with a standard let→
Start with a postcode if you want a property-specific route before relying on the council summary alone.
Shared occupancy or possible HMO→
Use the HMO checker if occupier numbers, households, or room-sharing could change the answer.
Check if a property has an HMO licence→
Use this if you need to check whether a property holds an HMO licence, or find the council's public HMO register.
Investor, buyer, or conveyancer→
Use the due diligence guide if this council page is part of a purchase, refinance, or pre-letting review.
Letting agent or portfolio manager→
Preview the monitoring route if you need ongoing watchlists and recurring scheme-change visibility.
Understand additional licensing rules→
Read the guide if you want the broader background on how additional HMO licensing works alongside this council page.
Need the local HMO route→
Use the additional licensing page if the real question is whether a smaller shared house needs a local licence here.
Tenant checking landlord compliance→
Use the tenant guide if you rent a property and want to check whether your landlord holds the right licence.
Important disclaimer
This tool provides general information about landlord licensing schemes in England. Results are based on publicly available data and may not reflect recent changes. This is not legal advice. Always verify licensing requirements directly with your local council before making decisions.
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