Portsmouth Council’s failure to control the spread of HMOs has led to such a profound backlash from residents that both the city’s MPs, Portsmouth North MP Amanda Martin and Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan (pictured), have been forced to intervene.

Between 2018 and 2023, the area’s HMO numbers surged from 3,920 to nearly 6,000, with the council’s regulatory response proving so inadequate that residents have completely lost faith in local planning enforcement.

Residents complain about overcrowding, noise, anti-social behaviour, strain on local services, parking pressures, waste management issues and that the loss of family housing is changing the character of neighbourhoods all across the city.

And the council’s own data also reveals the extent of the enforcement problem. It is currently investigating 130 cases of unlicensed HMOs with 23 properties already fined for non-compliance, and one councillor estimates there are many more illegal HMOs “operating under the radar without planning or licensing permission.”

I’ve heard from countless constituents who are deeply worried about the changing face of their neighbourhoods.”

Martin says: “Since being elected, I’ve heard from countless constituents who are deeply worried about the changing face of their neighbourhoods. HMOs are not inherently bad, but when they’re unregulated, planning enforcement is ignored, or they become over-concentrated in certain areas, they can lead to real problems.”

And fellow MP Stephen Morgan adds: “With housing demand so high in our city, squeezing more people into converted homes is not a long-term solution.”

The huge volume of residents’ complaints has forced the MPs to raise the issue directly with ministers and the Deputy Prime Minister, and they are now producing a detailed HMO Action Guide.

Major policy changes

They are also pushing Portsmouth City Council for major policy changes, including reducing permitted HMO percentages from 10% to 5% within a 50-metre radius.

In addition, they are hosting a joint Community Forum to bring local campaigners together to create a platform for change and hold the council to account over their planning enforcement and housing policy failures.

It’s the kind of HMO backlash that is not just confined to Portsmouth; it’s happening nationwide. In Darlington, campaigners are launching petitions after accusing their council of losing ‘control of the HMO situation’, and, in Maidstone, a consultation revealed 91% of residents want action after local authority failures.

The MPs’ forum will take place on Thursday, 31 July 2025, from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM in Copnor, Portsmouth.