Landlord Licensing Guide

Portsmouth City Council has a live landlord licensing scheme

Unitary · South East · Last researched 2026-08-29

Selective licensing in Portsmouth City Council

✓ No selective scheme found

Researched with no evidence of a live scheme. Licensing status changes on a weeks-to-months cadence, not annually — this is why we date every page.

Additional licensing in Portsmouth City Council

🔴 IS LIVE NOW

Additional licensing (14 wards, 2023); runs 2023-09-01 to 2028-08-31; coverage: partial

Designated areas: Baffins, Central Southsea, Charles Dickens, Copnor, Cosham, Drayton and Farlington, Eastney and Craneswater, Fratton, Hilsea, Milton, Nelson, Paulsgrove (+2 more). Partial-coverage schemes only apply on specific streets — check the council's own boundary map for your exact address.

Medium confidence — sourced from a licensing data aggregator, not independently re-verified on the council's own domain this pass. Sources: https://www.kammadata.com/uk-property-guide/property-licensing-guide-for-portsmouth/

National obligations that apply everywhere in England

These apply regardless of Portsmouth City Council's own licensing rules — every England landlord is on the hook for these:

Annual Gas Safety Certificate (CP12) — Any property with gas — unlimited fine and/or imprisonment on conviction if missing.
Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) — Every rental property — a live legal requirement in England since 2020.
Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) — Every rental property — currently rated E or above to be let legally.
Tenancy deposit protection — Any deposit taken — must be protected in a government-approved scheme within 30 days.
Right to Rent checks — Every tenant — landlords must verify immigration status before letting.
PRS Landlord Database registration — Phasing in nationally 2026–2028 under the Renters' Rights Act — a new, separate requirement from council licensing.

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Information, not legal advice. Compiled from public sources on 2026-08-29; licensing schemes change on a weeks-to-months cadence, not annually, so always confirm directly with Portsmouth City Council before relying on this for a real letting decision. Overall confidence for this page: medium.