Landlord licensing and compliance in Fareham
Fareham says qualifying HMOs need a licence and that licences last five years. The council provides a public register for checking recorded licence details and status. Its published material checked for this guide did not confirm additional or selective licensing, and the current fee schedule should be verified before applying.
Check whether your HMO needs a licence
Fareham's guidance says mandatory licensing applies to qualifying HMOs with at least five occupiers from two or more households sharing amenities, subject to the property exclusions described by the council. It states that an HMO licence lasts five years. Check the council's current criteria against the actual property and household arrangement.
Use the public register and confirm the fee
Fareham links to an HMO register showing recorded licence details and status. The council also publishes a 2026/27 fees schedule, but the HMO charge could not be verified from the schedule during this check. Confirm the current application and renewal fee and any payment terms directly with the licensing team.
Separate planning from licensing
The council's Warsash Article 4 direction concerns specified boundary-wall demolition and alterations in a conservation area; it is not evidence of an HMO-conversion restriction. Additional or selective licensing status and any HMO-specific planning direction were UNVERIFIED - could not confirm on council website. Ask the council about the exact address before relying on a planning assumption.
Sources: Fareham Borough Council HMO licensing and register, 2026/27 fees schedule and Warsash Article 4 information. Verify scheme scope, current fee and property status with the council. Illustrative guide - scheme boundaries and dates change; general information, not legal advice.
Renewal tracked from expiry, reminders from 60 days out, proof of service to tenants logged. Knows the 2-month early-renewal rule that keeps your date fixed.
Five years goes quicker than you think. Kept remembers so you don't have to - including the 28-day duty to give tenants a copy.
Expiry tracked from the certificate details you confirm - band E is the current minimum for most domestic private lets unless exempt, and proposed changes are flagged only when they become law.
30-day protection window tracked from the day the money lands - not the tenancy date - with prescribed information logged.
Check dates and follow-up dates for time-limited permissions, stored against each tenant.
Smoke alarms every storey, CO alarms where required, checked and dated at the start of every tenancy.
A one-off duty for tenancies that existed on 1 May 2026. Who was served, when, and how - the £7,000 question, answered with a dated record.
Preparation and export support for the future official registration process - clearly marked as planned.
Selective licensing (ordinary lets): UNVERIFIED - could not confirm on council website. See the local picture above - every other duty applies exactly as it does nationwide.
Add a postcode and Kept resolves the council, location and local context automatically.
Planned preparation and export support for the government's regional PRS Database rollout.