Barrister Michael Field successfully represented the appellants in the recent Upper Tribunal case of Fletcher v Portsmouth City Council [2026] UKUT 234 (LC). The decision provides important guidance on the limits of local authorities’ powers when imposing conditions on HMO licences.
The Tribunal confirmed that licence conditions must be justified by reference to the individual property being licensed and cannot simply be imposed as part of a “one-size-fits-all” approach. The judgment is likely to have significant implications for local authorities operating standard-form HMO licensing schemes across the country.
Read a fuller analysis of this important decision in this blog.
Expert advice is the best way to find out whether an action you have taken plan to take might amount to an offence, and what the consequences of that might be. Freemans solicitors are a leading provider of Rent Repayment Order and HMO advice and our experienced team will be happy to help with your enquiry. We can advise on whether a property counts as a converted block of flats HMO and what steps you might be able to take to change this.
Contact Michael Field, Karol Hart or Karol Hart on 020 7935 3522 or hmolawyers@freemanssolicitors.net
We provide genuine specialist advice to Landlords on property licensing regulation at the investigation stage and beyond.
We assist in defending claims for Rent Repayment Orders and alleged legislative breaches attracting criminal liability, including under the Housing Act 2004 and the HMO Regulations. Our assistance at the investigation stage includes advising on and challenging civil penalties. We provide specialist advocacy at the First-tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal, as well as at the Magistrates’ court and all appeal courts. We have a particular specialism in HMO work.