Landlord licensing in Havant Council

Licensing at a glance

HMO licensing

Mandatory HMO licensing applies to any property let to five or more people forming two or more households who share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet.

Additional licensing

Havant Council previously operated an additional licensing scheme for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) with three or four storeys, occupied by three or four tenants, forming two or more households. This scheme expired on 31 December 2023 and has not been renewed as of 2026. Therefore, no additional licensing scheme is currently in operation.

Selective licensing

Havant Council has no selective licensing schemes in operation as of August 2026.

Typical fees

Havant Council charges fees for mandatory HMO licences. Fees are subject to change. Current fees can be found on the council's licensing webpage.

Towns covered

Havant

What this means for you

If you let a property in the Havant Council area, first confirm which licensing regime applies to the exact address. Mandatory HMO licensing covers properties let to five or more people, forming two or more households, who share facilities. Additional licensing can extend requirements to smaller HMOs; designations last up to five years and can be ward- or street-specific. Selective licensing may require a licence for every private rented home in a designated area, including single-family lets. Check current designations before advertising. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 replaces fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies with periodic assured tenancies and ends section 21 no-fault evictions. Landlord registration with the national landlord database is required, and a new private rented sector ombudsman is introduced. Ensure a current gas safety record, an EICR no more than five years old, a valid EPC, working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, deposit protection, and all required prescribed documents are served before the tenancy starts.

Official links

• Licensing pages
• Council website