A large HMO is a shared house for seven or more people. Portsmouth is 15 miles south-east of Southampton. We price large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) there against England’s HMO rules and the council’s written HMO standards, so work is planned to the standard an inspection looks for. With students as well as working sharers renting in Portsmouth, we plan bigger jobs for the gap between academic-year tenancies where we can.
- Area
- Hampshire, England
- Postcodes
- PO1, PO4 and PO5
- Location
- 15 miles south-east of Southampton
- Council
- Portsmouth City Council
- Pricing region
- South East
What do large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) in Portsmouth involve?
- Protected stair and landing with fire doors and fire stopping
- Sound insulation between rooms and floors
- Fire alarm and detection system sized for the building
- Planning and building control drawings, coordinated with your designer
- Ensuites or extra bathrooms
Which rules apply in Portsmouth?
Here is what usually applies to a Portsmouth job of this kind. It is general information rather than legal advice, and the council’s written HMO standards have the final detail.
- Licences last up to 5 years and carry conditions on gas and electrical safety, alarms, room sizes and waste.
- Licensed HMOs must meet national minimum bedroom sizes: 6.51 m² for one person aged 10 or over, 10.22 m² for two, and 4.64 m² for a child under 10.
- Council standards often step up at 5 and 6 sharers, for example a separate WC at 5 and a second bathroom from 6.
- 3–6 unrelated sharers is use class C4; changing from a family house is usually permitted development unless an Article 4 direction applies.
Portsmouth City Council: local HMO schemes
| Article 4 (HMO) | In force across the council area Covers the whole city; in force since November 2011. |
|---|---|
| Additional licensing | In force across the council area City-wide additional HMO licensing 1 Sep 2023-31 Aug 2028. |
| Selective licensing | No scheme found |
Schemes change. Check the council’s current pages for the exact address in Portsmouth before you buy or start work. Source: Portsmouth City Council HMO licensing page, checked 2026-10-31.
How much do large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) cost in Portsmouth?
| Item | UK typical | Local guide | Per |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conversion works per letting room (walls, linings, electrics, decoration; excludes kitchens, bathrooms and fire systems; our estimate) | £3,500 – £6,500 | £3,900 – £7,300 | letting room |
| Panel alarm system (Grade A type), larger HMO | £1,750 – £4,500 | £1,950 – £5,050 | house |
| Protected route upgrades: fire-resisting linings, fire stopping, lighting (three-storey house, our estimate) | £2,000 – £6,000 | £2,250 – £6,700 | house |
| Ensuite shower room added to a bedroom | £4,000 – £10,000 | £4,500 – £11,200 | ensuite |
| Communal HMO kitchen with extra cooking and sink capacity (our estimate from domestic ranges) | £8,000 – £18,000 | £8,950 – £20,150 | kitchen |
Prices in Portsmouth are shown with our regional adjustment for South East (above the UK average). Your quote is itemised and fixed in writing once the scope and specification are agreed.
How long does it take?
Typical time on site: 10–20 weeks. We agree the programme with you before starting and send photo updates as the work progresses.
If the house is let to students, we work backwards from the next tenancy start date in Portsmouth.
When do Portsmouth landlords need it?
Typical reasons for this work in Portsmouth:
- You have planning in place, or want to apply
- A large house, three or more storeys, or a building with lots of rooms
Questions about large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) in Portsmouth
Can you work with my architect?
Yes. We often build from an architect’s drawings, or we can recommend a designer to prepare them.
How far do you travel from Portsmouth?
We cover the whole of Hampshire and work UK-wide. For Portsmouth the nearest towns on our list are Gosport (2 miles), Fareham (5 miles), Ryde (6 miles).
Which council covers HMOs in Portsmouth?
Portsmouth is covered by Portsmouth City Council. We read the council’s written HMO standards before pricing, and you should check the licence position for the exact address.
How much do large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) cost in Portsmouth?
Our guide ranges for South East are in the table on this page, and the guide-price tool gives a figure for your house. A fixed written quote follows a free site visit.
Large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) near Portsmouth
- Gosport · 2 mi
- Fareham · 5 mi
- Ryde · 6 mi
- Havant · 6 mi
- Waterlooville · 6 mi
- Cowes · 9 mi
- All of Hampshire
Other HMO services in Portsmouth
- House to HMO conversion in Portsmouth
- Escape routes, emergency lighting and fire stopping in Portsmouth
- Fire alarm and detection systems in Portsmouth
- Sound insulation in Portsmouth
- Loft conversions for extra rooms in Portsmouth
- Extensions for extra rooms in Portsmouth
- Layout changes and room reconfiguration in Portsmouth
- Void and between-tenancy refurbs in Portsmouth