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 currently operates an additional licensing scheme for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) with three or four occupants sharing facilities. This scheme applies borough-wide.

Selective licensing

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

Typical fees

Mandatory HMO license fees are £1,100 for a new application and £950 for a renewal. Additional HMO license fees are £825 for a new application and £675 for a renewal.

Towns covered

Havant

What this means for you

If you let a property in the Havant Council area, the first job is to confirm which licensing regime the exact address falls under. 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 can extend licensing to smaller HMOs. Designations run for up to five years and are ward- or street-specific, so confirm the position for the exact address. Selective licensing can require a licence for every private rented home in a designated area, including single-family lets. Check the current designations before you advertise. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 (main provisions commence 2026) replaces fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies with periodic assured tenancies, ends section 21 no-fault evictions and introduces a national landlord database and ombudsman. Whatever the licensing position, keep the same evidence pack for every Havant Council tenancy: a current gas safety record where there is gas, an EICR no more than five years old, a valid EPC, working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, deposit protection and prescribed information, and the required prescribed documents served before the tenancy starts.

Official links

• Licensing pages
• Council website