A small HMO is a shared house for three to six unrelated people. Landlords in Portsmouth (PO1, PO4 and PO5) usually come to us with a council letter, a fire risk assessment or a house they have just bought. We price from whichever you have. Portsmouth has a university population, so many shared houses are let to students on yearly tenancies, and summer is the main window for works.
- 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 small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Portsmouth involve?
- Interlinked smoke and heat detection
- Second bathroom, shower room or ensuites
- Locks, door closers and thumb-turn locks on the exit route
- Room-by-room size check before any work starts
- Fire doors to rooms off the escape route
Which rules apply in Portsmouth?
The rules below are the England-wide position for this kind of work. Councils add their own standards and schemes on top, so we always check the address in Portsmouth before we price.
- Under the Renters’ Rights Act, civil penalties reach £40,000 for offences such as running an unlicensed HMO.
- 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.
- National rules ask for an adequate number of bathrooms, WCs and basins and suitably located kitchens; numeric ratios are set by each council.
- 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 small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) cost in Portsmouth?
| Item | UK typical | Local guide | Per |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical 3–4 bed house to a 5–6 bed HMO, all-in | £30,000 – £75,000 | £33,600 – £84,000 | project |
| 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 |
| Shared bathroom refit | £5,500 – £9,000 | £6,150 – £10,100 | bathroom |
| Interlinked mains alarm system (Grade D type), small HMO (our estimate from installer guides) | £800 – £2,000 | £900 – £2,250 | house |
| FD30S fire door leaf into an existing frame, with seals, closer and hinges, fitted | £300 – £600 | £340 – £670 | door |
Use these as a starting point for budgeting. Access, condition and the council’s requirements in Portsmouth can move the figure either way, which is why we quote after seeing the house.
How long does it take?
Allow 4–10 weeks on site for a typical job. Drawings, approvals and long-lead items such as kitchens or fire door sets are booked before we start.
For student houses in Portsmouth, booking by spring is the safest way to make the summer gap.
When do Portsmouth landlords need it?
We usually get the call when:
- An existing small HMO needs bringing up to date
- You want a three to six sharer layout that fits the local planning rules
Questions about small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Portsmouth
What is the smallest room I can let?
In a licensed HMO in England, a room for one person aged 10 or over must be at least 6.51 square metres, not counting floor under a ceiling lower than 1.5 metres. Councils can set larger sizes, and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own standards. We measure every room before you commit to a layout.
Which postcodes in Portsmouth do you work in?
All of them, including PO1, PO4 and PO5, and the surrounding parts of Hampshire.
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 small HMO conversions (3–6 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.
Small HMO conversions (3–6 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
- Ensuite installation in Portsmouth
- Fire alarm and detection systems in Portsmouth
- Communal kitchen refits in Portsmouth
- Fire doors in Portsmouth
- Licence condition and schedule-of-works in Portsmouth
- Rewires and EICR remedials in Portsmouth
- Full HMO refurbishment in Portsmouth