The current situation with HMO's in Southampton is that the 5+ bed properties within the city are required to carry on with licensing as usual. This means that inspections can be undertaken by an independent surveyor from two months before the license expires until three months after. Any application made within this timeframe is deemed to be a timely application.
The 3&4 Bed properties will lapse at the end of September and there is no new scheme coming to take it's place, as things stand at the moment.
The council expect to make an announcement in October, with a view to reintroducing the scheme in January/February. So once the announcement is made,we are able to undertake inspections from this point, as the certificate of compliance will be valid for 6 months.
This is a link to the relevant council page explaining the situation:
https://www.southampton.gov.uk/housing/landlords/houses-multiple-occupation/apply/
Please scroll down to the "Please Note" section
I am able to offer inspections in the following circumstances:
1) If you have bought an HMO property which has been tenanted within the last three months
2) You have made changes to the property that require a change to the license
3) If the property has been empty since the scheme ended and now you have tenants due to occupy the building
4) If it is a Mandatory HMO (5+ Tenents) and the license has expired or is about to expire
5) As soon as the 3&4 bed properties are confirmed I will be able to undertake these insopections.
If you are a landlord in the Southampton area and you need to comply with the HMO Regulations then take a look at the "Independent Surveyor Route."
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