Portsmouth Additional Licensing Scheme 2028: What Happens When It Expires

Portsmouth City Council's Additional HMO Licensing scheme has a fixed expiry date baked into its statutory designation — and if you hold an additional licence or are thinking about applying for one, the countdown matters more than you might expect.

When Does the Additional Licensing Scheme End?

The current designation runs from 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2028. Portsmouth City Council approved it through a formal Cabinet decision on 22 November 2022, following the required public consultation under Section 56 of the Housing Act 2004.

The scheme covers the entire city — all 14 electoral wards, from Cosham down to Eastney. Every smaller HMO occupied by three or four people from two or more households needs an additional licence, along with shared flats in purpose-built blocks of three or more flats and Section 257 converted buildings.

Mandatory HMO licensing (for properties with five or more occupants from two or more households) is a permanent national requirement and is completely unaffected by the 2028 expiry date.

What Happens to Your Licence When the Scheme Expires

Your additional licence remains valid until its own stated expiry date, even if the scheme designation ends first. If you hold a 5-year licence granted in 2024, it runs until 2029 regardless of the scheme ending in 2028.

The licence term is set out on the licence itself. Portsmouth's published HMO list includes additional licences issued in 2024 with expiry dates in 2029, beyond the current designation end date. Check your licence rather than assuming its expiry matches the scheme's.

If the council does not renew the designation before 31 August 2028, the current additional licensing requirement ends. Properties with three or four sharers would not need an additional licence under this designation, unless another additional or selective designation is introduced; mandatory licensing for larger HMOs continues.

Will the Council Renew the Scheme?

The council has not formally announced a renewal decision yet, but the pattern across England suggests it is likely. Portsmouth ran an earlier additional licensing designation before this one and chose to renew it. Other cities — Liverpool, Oxford, Nottingham — have consistently re-designated their schemes when they expire.

Renewing requires the council to run a fresh public consultation for at least 10 weeks, consider the responses, demonstrate that the statutory conditions under Section 56 still apply, and make a new designation. That process typically starts 12 to 18 months before the expiry date, meaning any formal consultation would likely begin by early 2027.

What You Should Do Before 2028

If you hold an additional licence expiring near August 2028: watch for renewal notices from Portsmouth City Council. If the scheme is renewed, you will need to submit a renewal application and pay the applicable fees. Submitting your renewal at least 14 days before your licence expires qualifies you for the lower renewal fee rate and the 5-year tier (assuming you meet the other criteria — accreditation, EPC band E or above, no complaints).

If you are applying for the first time now: the licence term will be stated on the licence. Portsmouth's published HMO list already includes additional licences with expiry dates beyond 31 August 2028, so check the term granted for your property.

If the scheme is not renewed: the current additional licensing requirement would end on 31 August 2028. A later additional or selective designation could create a new local requirement; mandatory HMO licensing for five or more occupants continues under national law.

Either way, keeping your safety certificates current — gas safety, EICR, fire risk assessment — remains a legal obligation under separate regulations whether or not a licensing scheme is in force.

How This Fits with Other Licensing Changes

The national Private Rented Sector Database opens for South East landlords on 15 March 2027, with a compliance deadline of 14 June 2027. This is a separate registration from HMO licensing — both obligations run in parallel, and having one does not satisfy the other.

The 2024 General Approval also removed the "20/20 rule" that previously required Secretary of State confirmation for large selective licensing schemes. While Portsmouth currently operates no selective licensing scheme, the relaxed rules make it easier for the council to introduce one in future — something worth monitoring alongside the additional licensing renewal.

For the full application process, fee breakdowns, and document requirements for Portsmouth HMO licensing, the Landlord Licensing in Portsmouth guide walks through every step from scheme verification through to licence grant.

See more England guides →