Labour leaders call for action over out-of-date HMO register in Portsmouth

The council keeps a register of HMOs for people to check the planning status of properties and to inform its own threshold policy which says no more than 10 per cent of properties within 50 metres of a HMO should also be HMOs.

The database, which is available on the council’s website, was updated over the summer following technical issues; however, it hasn’t been updated since then.

Now, Portsmouth’s two Labour MPs and the city’s Labour group leader say the outdated public register is stopping residents and councillors from properly engaging with planning decisions.

Amanda Martin, MP for Portsmouth North, said: “Despite assurances that the Council follows strict rules, how can residents and local councillors object clearly and confidently when the information provided isn’t accurate?

“I have previously written to the Council highlighting wrong maps, out-of-date data and the fact that residents are not being given the full picture of what is happening in their area. This simply isn’t good enough.”

Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan said Southsea residents and “increasingly other areas of the city will know all too well what happens when the city council doesn’t get a grip of planning issues properly and the constant challenges presented by HMOs”.

“In some parts of our community, the proliferation of HMOs is well above the Council’s own 10 per cent target, and local people feel their voices are being ignored. That’s why I remain committed to working with others to put this right”.

Leader of the opposition, councillor Charlotte Gerada, said she is “often contacted by residents who share their concerns about inaccuracies on the HMO register, inaccuracies on the planning portal in relation to individual HMO applications and a general lack of confidence in the performance of the council’s planning department”.

“The planning system and the council’s own HMO policy only works if the council’s data is accurate, transparent and up to date. We hope the database will be updated urgently and going forward, will be updated at least monthly.”

The group is calling on the council to urgently update and correct the HMO register and mapping data, ensure residents can see the impact of HMOs in their neighbourhoods, and restore confidence that planning decisions are being made on a sound and accurate basis.

A Portsmouth City Council spokesperson said: “Since updating the database in July, a change in licensing regulations has caused further technical issues with our public register of licensed HMOs.

“We have been working with our software provider to make sure the correct data is displayed and we are very close to resolving this issue. We are sorry for the delay. Once the issue has been resolved we will be updating the database monthly.

“Members of the public can still get information on all HMO properties in the city by searching for individual licensed properties on the public register or requesting a copy of the current HMO register via email.

“It’s important to note that the database shows licensed HMO properties, not those that are in the process of applying for planning permission.”