POLITICAL COMMENT: Portsmouth MPs and local councillor demand action over out-of-date HMO list

Portsmouth’s MPs and a senior local councillor have written jointly to the Chief Executive of Portsmouth City Council demanding urgent action after it emerged that the Council’s published House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) data is inaccurate and out of date, once again.

The group says the outdated public register is preventing residents and councillors from properly engaging with planning decisions that directly affect their neighbourhoods.

Amanda Martin MP for Portsmouth North said residents are being denied the information they need to have a meaningful say on developments in their area: “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"I have previously written to the Council highlighting wrong maps, out-of-date data and the fact that residents are not being given the full picture of what is happening in their area.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 added:“Residents in Southsea 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% 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 the situation is undermining efforts to protect both tenants and neighbours: "I'm 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 latest action is calling on the Council to urgently:

• Update and correct the HMO register and mapping data
• Ensure residents can clearly see the cumulative impact of HMOs in their neighbourhoods
• Restore confidence that planning decisions are being made on a sound and transparent basis

The intervention comes as the Government moves forward with stronger national protections for renters, including tighter regulation of the private rented sector, improved standards and greater enforcement powers for councils.

Local representatives say Portsmouth must ensure its own systems are fit for purpose if it is to meet these expectations and protect communities.

The MPs and councillor say they will continue to work constructively with the Council but warn that continued inaction risks further erosion of trust among residents already concerned about housing pressure and neighbourhood change.