Private renting and HMOs
Examples: Landlord will not repair, Illegal eviction, Unlicensed shared house, Rent increase.
What do you need?
Pick one — each answer below says where to start and where to go next.
I want to report a problem or apply for something
Start here
Portsmouth City Council — Private Sector Housing team
Report an unresolved disrepair or safety problem in your rented home → · 023 9268 8369
If that link doesn't open, start from this page.
Why them: The council enforces housing standards (Housing Health and Safety Rating System) in private rented homes.
- Inspect and assess hazards
- Require the landlord to carry out work in some circumstances
- Tackle poor HMO management
- Help until you have reported the repair to your landlord in writing, waited 10 working days, then given a final 48 hours
- Portsmouth City Council — corporate complaints — If the council does not act on your report
Checked 23 September 2026 · source
Also useful
Portsmouth City Council — HMO licensing
Report a suspected unlicensed HMO → · 023 9284 1659
If that link doesn't open, start from this page.
Why them: All HMOs in Portsmouth require a licence, and the council keeps the licence register.
- Investigate unlicensed HMOs
- Check the public HMO database
- License a home with only two occupiers — no licence is needed
Checked 23 September 2026 · source
I want to challenge a decision that has been made about me
Start here
First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) via GOV.UK
Apply for a market rent determination if you disagree with a proposed rent increase →
Why them: Under the Renters' Rights Act 2025 rent can rise only once a year on a Form 4A notice, and the tribunal decides the open-market rent if you disagree.
- Determine the open-market rent for the property
- Deal with repairs or eviction disputes
Checked 23 September 2026 · source
Also useful
Advice Portsmouth
Get free, independent advice (PO1–PO6 residents) → · 023 9279 4340
Why them: The council itself signposts Advice Portsmouth for independent housing, benefits, debt and employment advice.
- General and specialist advice on social welfare, debt, benefits, employment, housing, family and consumer law
- Serve residents outside the PO1–PO6 areas it states it covers
Checked 23 September 2026 · source
I need someone to help me with my case
Start here
Portsmouth City Council — Landlord and Tenant Support Officer
Get support raising problems with your landlord → · 023 9284 1797
Why them: The council offers a named support officer for tenants worried about raising issues with a landlord, and signposts a free mediation service.
- Advise on approaching your landlord
- Point you to the free landlord and tenant mediation service
- Give independent legal advice — use Advice Portsmouth or Shelter
- Landlord and tenant mediation service — If both sides are willing to talk
- Shelter England — For independent housing advice
Checked 23 September 2026 · source
Also useful
Advice Portsmouth
Get free, independent advice (PO1–PO6 residents) → · 023 9279 4340
Why them: The council itself signposts Advice Portsmouth for independent housing, benefits, debt and employment advice.
- General and specialist advice on social welfare, debt, benefits, employment, housing, family and consumer law
- Serve residents outside the PO1–PO6 areas it states it covers
Checked 23 September 2026 · source
I want to change how things are done, not just fix my case
Start here
Your MP (Portsmouth North or Portsmouth South)
Ask your MP to raise national law or funding with ministers →
Why them: Tenancy law (the Renters' Rights Act 2025, possession grounds, the landlord database and ombudsman) is set by Parliament, not the council.
- Write to or question ministers
- Raise the issue in Parliament
- Make representations on your behalf to UK government departments
- Direct council officers or decide council spending
- Overturn a court, tribunal or council decision
Checked 23 September 2026 · source
Also useful
Portsmouth City Council — petitions and consultations
Start or sign a petition, or respond to a current council consultation →
Why them: Petitions and consultations are the council's formal routes for residents to shape policy rather than individual cases.
- Accept paper or e-petitions under the council's petition scheme
- Advise where a petition concerns another body
- Guarantee a particular outcome — the scheme sets out how petitions are handled, not that they succeed
- Current council consultations — When the council is consulting on a plan, policy or project
Checked 23 September 2026 · source
I have complained and it has not been put right
Start here
Rent Repayment Orders (First-tier Tribunal)
Apply to recover rent where your landlord committed a qualifying offence →
Why them: Where a landlord has committed certain offences (for example running an unlicensed HMO), tenants can apply to the tribunal themselves.
- Order repayment of rent for qualifying offences
- Order repairs
- Private Rented Sector Landlord Ombudsman — NOT YET OPEN on checkedOn — created by the Renters' Rights Act; council says "later in 2026", GOV.UK says "as soon as possible after Royal Assent".
Checked 23 September 2026 · source
Also useful
Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman
Complain to the LGSCO if the council mishandled your private-rented complaint →
Why them: It is the independent, free final step for complaints about council services, adult social care and most council housing functions other than social housing.
- Investigate fault in how the council acted and whether it caused you injustice
- Recommend apologies, payments or changes to council procedures
- Look at your complaint before the council has had the chance to resolve it
- Overturn a decision the council made properly just because you disagree with it
- Investigate issues that carry their own right of appeal to a tribunal
Checked 23 September 2026 · source
Your councillors and MP
Useful if the route above has failed, or it's about local policy. Optional: we look up your postcode once and never store it.
Good to know
This tells you where to start and what comes next. It is not legal advice. Time limits shown are the ones each body publishes; always check your own decision letter, which may give a different deadline.