A new licensing scheme is set to be introduced that will impact thousands of private rental properties across Southampton.

Council leaders are looking to launch a new additional house in multiple occupation (HMO) licensing scheme for addresses with three or more occupants from two or more households.

The new measure, which can lead to enforcement action for non-compliance, would apply to nine wards in the city where the majority of the homes are located.

Larger HMOs with five or more occupants from three or more households are already covered by national mandatory licensing.

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A cabinet report published ahead of the meeting on Tuesday, June 17, said previous schemes had a “very positive effect”, allowing the local authority to deal with issues of poor property condition, poor management and anti-social behaviour.

“The council recognises that many landlords in the city provide good quality and well managed rented accommodation for our residents,” the officer’s report said.

“The council will however take robust enforcement action where it is considered necessary to achieve compliance with HMO licence conditions and property standards to ensure that this sector provides safe & suitable accommodation for residents.

“Under the new scheme additional resources will be employed to monitor and enforce compliance, including HMO wardens to actively work in the designated areas to ensure licence conditions are being met.”

Around 27 per cent of Southampton’s 110,000 homes are in the private rental sector, housing 29 per cent of the city’s population – significantly higher than the 19 per cent national average.

It is estimated there are 6,000 to 7,000 HMOs in the city, which is approximately a quarter of private rented stock.

If approved by cabinet, the new licensing scheme would come into effect on September 1 for five years and cover the wards of Banister and Polygon, Bevois, Bargate, Portswood, Swaythling, Bassett, Freemantle, Shirley and Millbrook.

It will see between 2,500 and 3,000 smaller HMOs and HMOs within private purpose-built student accommodation blocks become subject to licensing.

Introducing the scheme was a key recommendation from the 2023/24 scrutiny inquiry into the private rented sector.

Eighty-six per cent of respondents to a public consultation were in favour of the proposals.