Last updated: 1 April 2026
HMO license fees must be levied in 2 parts:
Part 1: Application Fee (payable at the time of submitting an application) – This element of the fee will cover the costs incurred by the council to process the application up to the point of the decision being made to issue or refuse the licence. This fee is non-refundable. Read the refund policy for more information.
Part 2: Licence Issue Fee (payable within 14 days following receipt of the ‘Notice of Intention to Grant a License’) – This element of the fee covers the costs of issuing the licence, as well as operating and enforcing the HMO licensing scheme. Failure to make this payment will leave the property unlicensed and likely to result in enforcement action. This licence fee is not required if the licence application is refused. Please note: once a full license is issued this fee is non-refundable, even if the license is later revoked. Read the refund policy for more information.
The HMO licence application process involves a verification inspection, or a desktop survey, after which a draft licence will be issued to the applicant for comment, along with a request for the Part 2 payment. The final licence will only be issued following receipt of this payment. Failure to pay will result in the licence not being granted leaving the property unlicensed. Unlicensed properties are liable to legal enforcement action.
| Application type | Stage 1 | Stage 2 | Total fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| New application – 5 year licence | £222 | £664 | £886 |
| New application – 2.5 year licence | £222 | £695 | £917 |
| New application – 1 year licence | £222 | £1,007 | £1,229 |
| Licence renewal – 5 year | £145 | £700 | £845 |
| Licence renewal – 2.5 years | £145 | £595 | £740 |
| Licence renewal – 1 year | £145 | £564 | £709 |
Additional charge per dwelling
An additional charge of £74.00 will apply for any dwelling within the Section 257 building that the licence-holder has control over. This charge applies per dwelling and is applicable regardless of the occupancy levels of the dwelling. Please note that this charge only applies to dwellings within the Section 257 building that are not subject to mandatory and additional HMO licensing and does not mean that the chargeable dwelling has an HMO licence. If any of the flats within the building require either an additional or mandatory HMO licence this needs a separate application.
| Section 257 licence fee | |
|---|---|
| Additional charge per dwelling | £74 |
For example, a Section 257 building with one dwelling the licence-holder is in control of would be subject to the following fees:
| Application type | Stage 1 | Stage 2 | Additional dwelling charge | Total fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New application – 5 year licence | £222 | £664 | £74 | £960 |
| New application – 2.5 year licence | £222 | £695 | £74 | £991 |
| New application – 1 year licence | £222 | £1,007 | £74 | £1,303 |
| Licence renewal – 5 year licence | £145 | £700 | £74 | £919 |
| Licence renewal – 2.5 year licence | £145 | £595 | £74 | £814 |
| Licence renewal – 1 year licence | £145 | £564 | £74 | £783 |
A Section 257 building with two dwellings the licence-holder is in control of would be subject to the following fees:
| Application type | Stage 1 | Stage 2 | Additional dwelling charge | Total fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New application – 5 year licence | £222 | £664 | £148 | £1,034 |
| New application – 2.5 year licence | £222 | £695 | £148 | £1,065 |
| New application – 1 year licence | £222 | £1,007 | £148 | £1,377 |
| Licence renewal – 5 year licence | £145 | £595 | £148 | £993 |
| Licence renewal – 2.5 year licence | £145 | £595 | £148 | £888 |
| Licence renewal – 1 year licence | £145 | £564 | £148 | £857 |
Refunds policy
A refund will be given if:
- You’ve made a duplicate application
- You made an application for an exempted property by mistake
- You made an application for a property which isn’t licensable under Portsmouth HMO licensing schemes
A refund will not be given if:
- You withdraw your application at any stage
- We refuse your application
- We revoke (take away) your licence
- You are subsequently refused planning permission for your HMO
- Your property ceases to be let as an HMO during the term of the licence (including if you sell your HMO during the term of the license).
Further information
If you need any additional information, please contact hmo.licensing@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or call 023 9284 1659.